GAZA/ISRAEL: Israeli Cobra attack helicopter pilot explains efforts to minimise civilian casualties

Record ID: 395919

  • Title: GAZA/ISRAEL: Israeli Cobra attack helicopter pilot explains efforts to minimise civilian casualties
  • Date: 20th January 2009
  • Summary: IN AIR, OVER GAZA (JANUARY 18, 2009) (REUTERS) ISRAELI HELICOPTER IN SKY FIRING FLARES CLOSER VIEW OF ISRAELI MILITARY HELICOPTER FLYING PALMACHIM, ISRAEL (JANUARY 19, 2009) (REUTERS) ISRAELI COBRA HELICOPTER SITTING ON GRASS NEAR HANGER CLOSE UP OF PILOT IN COCKPIT OF HELICOPTER ISRAELI FLAG PATCH ON PILOT'S UNIFORM PILOT IN COCKPIT PILOT GETTING OUT OF HELICOPTER PIL
  • Embargoed: 4th February 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: War / Fighting,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVAMWFULQ9UM1AW99OIWZCYR8M9
  • Story Text: Israeli Cobra attack helicopter pilot says the military makes a great effort, even putting its own pilots at risk, to minimise civilian casualties.
    An Israeli attack helicopter pilot said on Monday (January 19) the military takes drastic measures to minimise civilian casualties - steps that even put their own pilots at greater risk.
    The civilian death toll and destruction in the Gaza Strip brought strong international pressure on Israel to stop the offensive it launched with the declared aim of ending rocket attacks that had killed 18 people over the previous eight years.
    During the 22-day-long offensive, Israeli attacks killed more than 1,300 Palestinians, including some 700 civilians, Gaza medical officials said.
    Some 5,300 Palestinians were wounded in air, ground and naval assaults.
    One Israeli Lieutenant-Colonel, who cannot be identified under Israeli military censorship rules, said the precision of Israel's weapons can keep civilian casualties to a minimum.

    "We are receiving the very precise location that we need to shoot, and our missiles are very accurate and can hit a window, a specific window, and usually where there is a chance for collateral damage they are using our missiles instead of other bombs that are heavier," he said.
    The pilot, a 20-year-veteran who has flown combat missions in Lebanon and Gaza, said he even puts his own life on the line.

    "We call such families before attacking their homes. By doing this, we lose the effect of surprise, and I put myself, my formation, under much greater risk doing this, and I don't know if there's any other army that is willing to risk his own pilot, and own soldiers just to minimise casualties from the enemy's civilians," he said.
    The pilot expressed hope that the three-week offensive in Gaza sent a message to Hamas militants to stop rocket fire aimed at Israeli communities.

    "If they will not understand our willing to put an end to the killing and casualties, we'll be back and will continue the work until no Israeli city will be under any threat of rocket," he said.
    Israel launched its air, ground and sea assault on December 27 vowing to "change the reality" for southern border towns that, since 2001, had taken fire from Hamas and other Palestinian factions armed with mostly improvised short-range rockets.
    For now, Gaza's situation looks much as it did before the conflict -- armed standoff and a dim future for the 1.5 million people fenced inside the strip by a blockade aimed at punishing Islamist Hamas for rocket fire and its ambitions to destroy Israel.
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