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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Friday evening that all soldiers stationed at the Sayarim Base near Eilat have been moved into air-conditioned living quarters following a heat-related incident that saw six soldiers faint during training.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday, unfolded as soldiers were undergoing a border defense training course at the height of Israel’s heatwave. According to reports, a malfunction in the base’s air conditioning system left soldiers vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to the collapse of six troops.
Army Radio further revealed that the base had gone two days without electricity amid the sweltering conditions, compounding the challenges faced by personnel.
In response, the IDF implemented immediate corrective measures. These include relocating all soldiers to air-conditioned facilities, increasing ice and fruit supplies, deploying fans to guard posts, and enhancing the availability of drinking water.
The IDF added that additional ice deliveries would continue throughout the weekend to maintain cooler conditions for those stationed at the base.
The base commander personally engaged with soldiers’ parents following the incident. In the conversation, parents voiced concerns and criticism about the circumstances that led to their children fainting. The IDF said their complaints were addressed directly and promised that “commanders on the ground” are actively handling the matter.
To further safeguard personnel, guard duty hours have been shortened for the weekend, ensuring that soldiers are not overly exposed to the extreme heat. Training activities, which were suspended following the incident, are set to resume on Tuesday for female observational soldiers, pending an updated situational assessment.
Despite the steps taken, Army Radio reported that the Sayarim Base will undergo planned power outages in the coming days as repairs to the air conditioning system proceed. During this period, commanders are reportedly increasing support to soldiers, emphasizing hydration and cooling measures.
The fainting incident has brought renewed attention to the challenges faced by IDF soldiers serving under harsh weather conditions in southern Israel.
With climate change contributing to more frequent and intense heatwaves in the region, military planners are under increasing pressure to adapt infrastructure and training schedules to protect personnel health.
The IDF stressed that soldier welfare remains a top priority and that lessons learned from the Sayarim Base incident will guide future preventive actions. “Commanders are committed to safeguarding soldiers’ health while maintaining operational readiness,” an IDF spokesperson said.
For families and soldiers alike, the swift response offers reassurance, but the episode underscores the ongoing difficulties faced by troops stationed in Israel’s desert regions, where soaring summer temperatures are becoming an operational hazard as well as a health risk.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members