Heavily armed and bikini-clad female Israeli soldiers 'mingle' with beachgoers

Standing confidently on the beach, with a rifle casually slung over her shoulder, you would think twice about knocking over this woman's sandcastle.    

The bikini-clad subject is thought to be a solider and a member of the highly-trained Israeli Defence Forces. 

Since the surprising photo, snapped in Tel Aviv, was posted on the internet it has gone viral with many users reacted with shock at seeing such a hostile weapon on a sunny beach.

Some internet users were perplexed as to why the woman in the photo would be at the beach with a rifle- which does not appear to have a magazine loaded - but not in her uniform. 

But other users were quick to point out there could have been practical reasons for the solider to take the weapon to the beach.

Under Israeli military regulations, if members take their weapon out from their military base they must keep them near at all times. 

Read more: Daily Mail