The reported friendly-fire incident in Jabalia is one of the deadliest since the war began.

Archived version: https://archive.ph/HLsNX

  • culpritus [any]@hexbear.net
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    18
    ·
    6 months ago

    According to the IDF’s website, 44 of the soldiers killed in Gaza as of Wednesday - 15% of the total - died as a result of what it describes as “operational accidents”.

    This seems really high.

    • TranscendentalEmpire@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      6 months ago

      Probably a lot higher as well. Historically friendly fire numbers make up anywhere from 2-20% of casualties. The actual amount reported tends to go up the longer people have to investigate the engagements. And most governments are motivated to cover up friendly fires until at least until the war is over.

      Typically the more lopsided the war is, the more likely friendly fire will make up a large part of your combat casualties. That is why around a quarter of the combat losses in the first Gulf war was friendly fire.

      It wouldn’t surprise me if the actual friendly fire rate is closer to 25-40% of their combat casualties considering they’re mostly made of poorly drilled conscripts.