Israeli commander rushes to military base to protect it from 'surprise' Hamas attack

Israeli army soldiers take positions in Zikim after rocket fire from Gaza. Photo: Cover

As Israeli security services came under fire for a «colossal failure» after Hamas was caught off guard by Hamas' biggest attack on the country, one military commander defended his troops' ability to fight back despite the «surprise» attack.

Colonel Elad Edri, commander of the rescue and training brigade of the IDF Logistics Command, described how he was fast asleep when he woke up to a warning of an incoming rocket attack.

He told The Telegraph how he was in his home in Kfar Yona, an hour and a half drive from the Zikim military base, and he had to flee there to be with his soldiers.

By the time he reached the base within two hours of the assault, 13 to 15 terrorists had been hunted down and killed by his men, who fired at them with hand grenades and M-16 machine guns.

Some of the Israeli soldiers involved had only three months of IDF training.

“This brutal attack did not start by accident, they wanted to kill as many soldiers at the base as possible,” said Colonel Edri from an undisclosed location in Israel.< /p>

After combing the base for terrorists, they focused on evacuating the wounded soldiers to receive medical attention at a nearby hospital. Some of Colonel Edri's men later died.

Once the area was under control, troops visited nearby villages, located 4 km east of the Gaza Strip.

The «atrocities» what they saw was too “impossible to describe,” said Colonel Edri, who served in the IDF for 25 years.

However, despite the trauma of Saturday’s attack, they remain dedicated to the task of defending their nation.

Despite the trauma of Saturday’s attack, they remain dedicated to the task of defending their nation.

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«Some soldiers were saddened that their friends were killed or wounded,» he added.

«This particular unit that came under this attack insisted on staying together, They won't be coming home or going on vacation.

«This is by far the craziest battle I have been in. It is my greatest honor to command these soldiers.»