An Israeli Air Force pilot died on Wednesday as he ejected from his F-16 fighter jet upon returning from an airstrike mission in the Gaza Strip. The jet caught fire and crashed moments later outside Ramon Air Force base in southern Israel.
The pilot died while landing the jet on Wednesday evening, Anadolu news agency reported citing an army statement.
The spokesperson added that a commission had been opened to determine the cause of the crash.
#Israel: Footage from the #Ramon AB, #Negev Desert following crash of F-16 fighter jet pic.twitter.com/rtbi3Prhyx
— MENASTREAM (@MENASTREAM) October 5, 2016
Meanwhile, Haaretz reported that the pilots were returning from a mission to conduct airstrikes in the Gaza Strip after a rocket allegedly fired from the blockaded Palestinian territory landed in the southern Israeli town of Sderot.
Israeli airstrikes and artillery shells hit multiple targets in the Gaza Strip, notably near Khan Yunis, Beit Lahiya, and Gaza City. No injuries were reported.
Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, condemned the Israeli attacks on the besieged enclave, saying that Hamas could not “stand by idly” if Israel continued its escalation and called upon the international community to stop Israel’s aggression in Gaza.
(MA’AN, PC)
