Israeli navy says Egyptian police officer kills 3 troopers in gunbattle at Egyptian border

JERUSALEM (AP) – A gunbattle involving an Egyptian police officer in southern Israel alongside the Egyptian border left three Israeli troopers useless Saturday, the military mentioned. It was a uncommon occasion of lethal violence alongside the frontier.

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a military spokesperson, mentioned the preventing started in a single day when troopers thwarted a drug-smuggling try throughout the border.

He mentioned a number of hours later, two troopers in a guard submit have been shot and killed. Their our bodies have been discovered after the taking pictures, when they didn’t reply to radio communications.

Hecht mentioned the killings seemed to be linked to the thwarted drug smuggling try. The military mentioned the Egyptian police officer was killed in a second trade of fireside by which a 3rd soldier was killed.

Hecht mentioned an investigation was being carried out in full cooperation with the Egyptian military. He mentioned troops have been trying to find different potential assailants.

It was the primary lethal trade of fireside alongside the Israel-Egypt border in over a decade.

The military mentioned one of many killed troopers was a girl.

Criminals generally smuggle medication throughout the border, whereas Islamic militant teams are additionally energetic in Egypt’s restive north Sinai.

Israel and Egypt signed a peace settlement in 1979 and preserve shut safety ties. Fighting alongside their shared border is uncommon.

The trade of fireside reportedly befell across the Nitzana border crossing between Israel and Egypt. The crossing is positioned about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southeast of the purpose the place Israel’s border with Egypt and the Gaza Strip converge. It’s used to import items from Egypt destined for Israel or the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.