MOSCOW, September 29 (RIA Novosti) - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is investigating a report alleging that children of American donors were invited by officers of the Nahal Reconnaissance Battalion to fire weapons at a makeshift army shooting range, Jerusalem Online reported Monday.
The IDF spokesman's office responded to the incident by saying, "initial inquiry indicates that this is a very serious incident that exceeds the accepted norms. The event will be investigated and the necessary lessons will be learned," Jerusalem Online reported.
The children, aged 10 to 15 years old, were supervised by seniors in the Nahal Reconnaissance Battalion including the commander and deputy of the training unit. The American children shot various weapons including MAG, Tavor and M-16 without training, helmets, or ear plugs, against all IDF safety rules and regulations. A video taken of the impromptu shooting via cellphone shows that as a result of the risky conditions, a fire broke out requiring fire extinguishing forces to rush to the scene.
The IDF commander originally denied reports of the shooting until he learning of the video recording the event.
The Nahal Infantry Brigade was established in 1982 as a response to the IDF's severe lack in infantry manpower during the First Lebanon War. The brigade consists of three battalions and a reconnaissance battalion. Members of the brigade fought in the First Lebanon War in Beirut, the Second Lebanon War, and the First and Second Intifada. The units are responsible for patrolling Israeli borders with Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza in addition to operating in West bank territories.
