JERUSALEM, March 23 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli civilian was killed by Israeli artillery fire near the Israel-Lebanon border on Sunday, not by a Hezbollah rocket as initially reported, the military said on Monday.
Israel initially blamed a Hezbollah rocket attack for the killing.
Initial findings indicate the man, Ofer Moskovitz, was mistakenly hit by artillery fire aimed in support of troops near the border, the military said in a statement.
"The artillery fire was carried out at an incorrect angle and did not follow required protocols. As a result, five artillery shells were fired at the Misgav Am ridge instead of toward the enemy target," it said.
"This is a very severe incident. Ofer Moskovitz was killed by our own forces' fire during an operation whose entire purpose was to protect civilians," Northern Command chief Rafi Milo, who led the inquiry, said.
Moskovitz is the first civilian killed in cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah since the war with Iran began on Feb. 28. ■
