An IDF soldier and Israeli citizen engaged with multiple masked smugglers near Nitzana in southern Israel, the military confirmed in a Thursday night statement.
After a planned operational activity and outside of the area of operational jurisdiction, the IDF explained, the two noticed a number of suspicious indivuduals "engaged in smuggling activity."
According to initial reports, the civilian opened fire on the suspects vehicle using both their personal firearm as well as the soldier's. The vehicle veered off course, injuring one of the suspects who was evacuated to the hospital for futher medical treatement, and was later pronounced dead.
The incident is under review, and the civilian's conduct is also being reviewed by a joint inquiry team from the Military Police and the Israel Police.
IDF shoots down two smuggling drones
In a seperate incident on Thursday, an IAF combat helicopter shot down two drones that had illegally crossed into Israeli territory "from the west."
IDF observation posts and the IAF aerial control center in the area identified the entry of two drones as a smuggling attempt, the military explained.