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The Israel Defense Forces says that it neutralized an explosive-laden donkey that was said to be heading toward Israeli troops in Gaza on Friday. And by neutralized, we mean, the explosives were set off with gunfire.

From the IDF blog:

Up-to-date ISA intelligence alerted the IDF that terror organizations in the Gaza Strip intend to strap explosives to animals and send them in the direction of ground forces. On the night of July 18, there was at least one such attempt, in which a donkey suspiciously began to approach forces. The forces approached the donkey and it exploded at a safe distance, whereas no injuries were sustained by the IDF as a result."

According to the IDF, using explosive-rigged animals to attack Israeli troops has an not-so-illustrious past including donkeys and dogs. According to the Telegraph:

Several attempted donkey-assisted attacks were reported in the West Bank and Gaza during the second Palestinian intifada [uprising] of 2000-2005. Other incidents have been recorded in recent years, including one in 2009 when militants approached the Karni crossing between Gaza and Israel with horses carrying mines and explosives.

According to the Washington Post, donkey-rigging isn't limited to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict:

In Afghanistan, there were several instances of suicide donkeys sent by the Taliban to attack British and U.S. troops stationed in the country. And almost exactly a year ago, a suicide bomber riding a donkey killed three NATO soldiers in Wardak province.

This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.

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