Israeli soldier wounded in IDF shootout with smugglers on Egypt border

The IDF fired at a group of suspected drug smugglers on the Egyptian border late on Monday night.

Several people were wounded in the firefight, with a female soldier being taken to hospital, although she is now considered to be in good condition, according to Israeli media. Her family has been informed.

The IDF identified around 20 suspects on the Egyptian side in the area near the Nitzana border crossing, some of them were armed.

#عاجل وصل قبل قليل نحو عشرين مشتبه فيهم من بينهم عدد من المسلحين من داخل الأراضي المصرية نحو منطقة الحدود بالقرب من نيتسانا حيث قام الجنود العاملين في المنطقة بإطلاق النار نحو المسلحين ورصدوا عدة إصابات.

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) January 15, 2024

This is believed to have been an attempt to smuggle drugs into Israel according to Avichay Adraee, the IDF's Arabic spokesperson.

Following the incident, the six drug smugglers were arrested according to Egyptian security officials, quoted by Reuters.

IDF search for potential infiltration

The IDF began searching the area for possible infiltration by terrorists.

There are increased fears of infiltration during an anti-drug smuggling operation, due to a similar incident in June 2023, in which three IDF soldiers were killed by an Egyptian border police officer. 

The Egyptian border police officer snuck into Israel following a similar routine anti-drug smuggling operation.

He took advantage of his position as an Egyptian police officer to kill two IDF soldiers at an outpost and a third during a shootout with IDF soldiers.

Smuggling through the Negev border has been a persistent problem for both Israel and Egypt with millions of shekels in drugs being seized on the border, sometimes in single operations.

Smuggling typically involves handovers of drugs at the border between small groups traveling on quick vehicles which can make them difficult to catch without prior intelligence.