Three Air Force soldiers who violently assaulted a senior officer in July were sentenced Monday to six months in prison, according to the Yedioth Ahronoth daily.

Major A., deputy commander of an F16 squadron at the northern Ramat David Airbase, was struck with fists and wooden clubs at the presence of his children, after lodging a complaint with the soldiers' commanding officer for their reckless driving on base premises, in violation of strict military regulations.

The squadron commander, accompanied by passers-by, rushed to the scene of the melee and extricated his deputy from what eyewitnesses described as "a near certain lynch." The pilot was evacuated to the base's medical clinic, after sustaining light to moderate wounds.

"These guys crossed a red line. We saw evil in their eyes," recounted one eyewitness.

A military court also demoted the assailants, who serve in a technical support unit, to the rank of private, in a plea bargain deal reached with the Army Judge Advocate General's Office.

The incident sparked dismay and outrage in the Air Force, with some senior officers calling to review the screening of potential candidates for service, a tiny minority of whom were convicted of felonies and misdemeanors while still in high school.

"With all due respect to the notion of the people's army, the balance has been violated and we are paying a price," said a commander of another fighter squadron in the wake of the incident.

The officer said he was forced to "invest too much time" in solving soldiers' personal problems at the expense of operations.