Jerusalem, 8 December, 2021 (TPS) — Israel conveyed its condolence to India after the country’s Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and another 11 military officers were killed in a helicopter crash on Wednesday.

Minister of Defense, Benny Gantz stated that “on behalf of the defense establishment and on my behalf, I would like to share in the grief of the Indian people and defense establishment in India” over Rawat’s death.

“General Rawat was a partner of the IDF and the defense establishment, and contributed greatly to the strengthening of security relations between the two countries and was even expected to visit the country soon,” he stated.

The IDF and Indian Army maintain warm relations, and the Indian and Israeli military industries have collaborated on a number of significant projects.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi eulogized Rawat as “an outstanding soldier. A true patriot, he greatly contributed to modernizing our armed forces and security apparatus. His insights and perspectives on strategic matters were exceptional.”

Rawat was reportedly on his way to deliver a lecture at the Defence Staff College in Wellington. Official sources cited poor visibility due to heavy fog as the likely reason behind the crash. Only one passenger survived.