Three Israeli soldiers were killed and several others were wounded when an Israeli Air Force helicopter crashed in the southern Gaza Strip last night. The incident, described by the military as an accident, occurred as the helicopter was on a mission to evacuate a critically injured combat engineer.

According to an initial investigation by the Israel Air Force (IAF), a UH-60 Black Hawk from the 123rd Squadron was deployed to Rafah at around 11:30 p.m. with a Unit 669 medical team. The helicopter was tasked with transporting the wounded combat engineer, who had been injured in the ongoing conflict.

The crash happened during the helicopter’s final approach to land inside an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) encampment in Rafah. The aircraft impacted the ground instead of landing smoothly. The IAF reported that the helicopter was not hit by enemy fire and the crash occurred just before landing, which means it did not fall from a high altitude.

Despite the crash’s impact, the helicopter was severely damaged, and everyone on board sustained injuries. Two soldiers died at the scene, while eight others were taken to hospitals, with four in serious condition. The critically injured combat engineer was among those transported.

The exact cause of the crash remains unclear, though the IAF has classified it as an accident. An investigation is underway to determine why the helicopter failed to land properly.

The names of the deceased soldiers have not yet been released, but their families have been notified.

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