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Egoz Unit
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>The current Egoz unit was formed in January 1995 from a team of Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit soldiers, as part of the <a href="/facts/Golani_Brigade/pBgpyHFK">Golani Brigade</a>. It was named after the original <a href="/facts/Egoz_Reconnaissance_Unit/HyUgH6xS">Egoz Reconnaissance Unit</a> that operated under Northern Command until 1974.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> The initiative to establish the unit was driven by then-Chief of Staff <a href="/facts/Amnon_Lipkin-Shahak/Aj5ndJhR">Amnon Lipkin-Shahak</a> and Northern Command Commander <a href="/facts/Amiram_Levin/D2YFCSma">Amiram Levin</a>, who sought to revolutionize the fight against <a href="/facts/Hezbollah/HRhTo2rI">Hezbollah</a> through new combat doctrines and tactics. The unit was attached to the Golani Brigade due to the claim by its commander, <a href="/facts/Moshe_Kaplinsky/uBYX4n97">Moshe Kaplinsky</a>, that the new unit required the support, mentorship, and logistics of an experienced unit, well-versed in combat in Lebanon.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p> <p>Egoz was created as a guerrilla warfare unit specifically to fight Hezbollah in the Security Zone of southern <a href="/facts/Lebanon/2dReTXyp">Lebanon</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> Its first commander was Erez Zuckerman, a former member of <a href="/facts/Shayetet_13/0MUbEF3F">Shayetet 13</a>, who led the unit through most of its initial operations.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> Within six months of its establishment, the unit had already achieved notable successes, including its first operation, during which it killed two Hezbollah militants near the <a href="/facts/Hula/Yc50qzBz">Hula</a> outpost.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> </p><p>In 1997, <a href="/facts/Moshe_Tamir_(general)/XG6oRMmj">Moshe (Chico) Tamir</a> from the Golani Brigade took command of the unit. His tenure was marked by determined fighting against Hezbollah. One of the most notable operations during his command was Operation Wild Nature in September 1997, where the unit killed <a href="/facts/Hadi_Nasrallah/KIXtX9FH">Hadi Nasrallah</a>, the son of Hezbollah's Secretary-General <a href="/facts/Hassan_Nasrallah/KIXtX9FH">Hassan Nasrallah</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> The bodies of the militants were later returned to Lebanon in exchange for the remains of <a href="/facts/Shayetet_13/0MUbEF3F">Shayetet 13</a> commando Itamar Eliyahu, who had been killed in the Shayetet Disaster.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> Another significant operation during this time was Operation Brilliant Move, in which Tamir led the unit in a mission in Lebanon against a Hezbollah security squad in the village of Aindouriyah, killing eight militants.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> </p> <h3>2000s</h3> <p>Following Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, the unit continued its operations along the northern border, while also becoming involved in <a href="/facts/Counter-terrorism/XSzTcfND">counter-terrorism</a> operations in the <a href="/facts/West_Bank/xzTTVNJl">West Bank</a> and the <a href="/facts/Gaza_Strip/GodcCxlV">Gaza Strip</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> Under the command of <a href="/facts/Tamir_Yadai/NbUvex35">Tamir Yadai</a>, Egoz participated in <a href="/facts/Operation_Defensive_Shield/Jqlu39hL">Operation Defensive Shield</a>, including the Battle of Ramallah.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> </p> <h3>Second Lebanon War</h3> <p>On 20 July 2006, during the <a href="/facts/Second_Lebanon_War/fBLLu3GN">Second Lebanon War</a>, five soldiers from Egoz were killed, and six others were wounded in a battle near the <a href="/facts/Moshav/IuelDAxX">moshav</a> of <a href="/facts/Avivim/QDkxFfez">Avivim</a>, while clearing Hezbollah bunkers in the village of <a href="/facts/Maroun_al-Ras/5BKsNwqk">Maroun al-Ras</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> According to IDF reports, about 20 Hezbollah militants were killed during the <a href="/facts/Battle_of_Maroun_al-Ras_(2006)/SxFvVdSJ">Battle of Maroun al-Ras</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> </p><p>Following the war, the unit conducted a series of offensive operations in the <a href="/facts/Gaza_Strip/GodcCxlV">Gaza Strip</a>, alongside the <a href="/facts/Golani_Brigade/pBgpyHFK">Golani Brigade</a> and <a href="/facts/Givati_Brigade/oR8r8225">Givati Brigade</a>. In one operation in January 2008, Egoz forces, supported by <a href="/facts/Israeli_Armored_Corps/cIxWSX9G">armor</a> and <a href="/facts/Israeli_Air_Force/bcm4GjTf">air force</a> units, killed 18 militants, including the son of senior <a href="/facts/Hamas/VjIkApsc">Hamas</a> leader <a href="/facts/Mahmoud_al-Zahar/kmf4KC5A">Mahmoud al-Zahar</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> During <a href="/facts/Operation_Protective_Edge/ohAzVkfk">Operation Protective Edge</a> in 2014, the unit killed approximately 50 militants while fighting in the <a href="/facts/Shejaiya/n0RhmGK3">Shejaiya</a> neighborhood. On the 14th day of the operation, the unit's commander, Lt. Col. Yonatan Rumm, was seriously injured by an <a href="/facts/Anti-tank_missile/I3C5D1CS">anti-tank missile</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> His predecessor, Lt. Col. Pini Yosef, took over and led the unit in further combat operations.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a> </p> <h3>Establishment of the Commando Brigade and after</h3> <p>On 24 December 2015, Egoz officially parted ways with the <a href="/facts/Golani_Brigade/pBgpyHFK">Golani Brigade</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a> and on 27 December, it joined the newly formed <a href="/facts/Oz_Brigade/oKFaUgGq">Oz Brigade</a>. </p><p>The unit participated in <a href="/facts/Operation_Guardian_of_the_Walls/xa8LaT5w">Operation Guardian of the Walls</a> in Gaza, targeting dozens of anti-tank and rocket-launching sites and killing multiple militants. </p><p>In July 2023, Egoz took part in Operation House and Garden in the area of <a href="/facts/Jenin/35mmp7A8">Jenin</a> refugee camp, conducting offensive operations and dismantling terrorist infrastructure. During the operation, Egoz soldier Sgt. David Yehuda Yitzhak was killed in a firefight.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a> </p><p>The unit has lost 17 soldiers since the start of the <a href="/facts/Hamas-Israel_War/3hElVMy3">Hamas-Israel War</a> (as of October 2024).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="unit-commanders">Unit Commanders</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th>Name</th><th>Term</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td>Erez Zuckerman</td><td>1995–1997</td><td>Awarded Chief of Staff Citation, later commander of the Bashan Division</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Moshe_Tamir_(general)/XG6oRMmj">Moshe Tamir</a></td><td>1997–1998</td><td>Awarded Northern Command Citation, later commander of the Company Commanders and Battalion Commanders Course</td></tr><tr><td>Hagai Peleg</td><td>1998–1999</td><td>Awarded Northern Command Citation, later commander of the <a href="/facts/Yamam/jpKE1FUR">Yamam</a></td></tr><tr><td>Hagai Mordechai</td><td>1999–2000</td><td>Later Chief of Staff of the <a href="/facts/Ground_Forces/wAoIlRyN">Ground Forces</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Tamir_Yadai/NbUvex35">Tamir Yadai</a></td><td>2000–2002</td><td>Later Commander of the <a href="/facts/Ground_Forces/wAoIlRyN">Ground Forces</a></td></tr><tr><td>Avi Peled</td><td>2002–2003</td><td>Later IDF attaché to India</td></tr><tr><td>Ofek Buchris</td><td>2003–2004</td><td>Awarded Chief of Staff Citation, later commander of <a href="/facts/IDF_Command_and_Staff_College/ps865cXk">IDF Command and Staff College</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Mordechai_Kahana/LTwEpVmJ">Mordechai Kahana</a></td><td>2004–2006</td><td>Later Chief Intelligence Officer</td></tr><tr><td>Yaniv Assor</td><td>2006–2008</td><td>Later Chief of Personnel Directorate</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/David_Zini/zVK2ylne">David Zini</a></td><td>2008–2010</td><td>Later Commander of the <a href="/facts/General_Staff_Corps/PLhtcJBT">General Staff Corps</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Shlomi_Binder/nFAjRAx1">Shlomi Binder</a></td><td>2010–2012</td><td>Later Chief of IDF Operations Branch</td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="gallery">Gallery</h2> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Yiftach_Brigade/19oQYEyB">11th 'Yiftach' Brigade</a> – reserve formation made up of mostly Egoz veterans</li> <li><a href="/facts/Sayeret/o5TcgP6G">Sayeret</a>, Hebrew term for 'special reconnaissance unit'</li></ul> Wikimedia Commons has media related to Egoz Unit. <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"יחידת אגוז: חטיבת הקומנדו – הכל על היחידה – איך מתקבלים" [Egoz Unit: the commando brigade – everything about the unit – how to be admitted in]. adrenalin-israel.co.il (in Hebrew). 12 May 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2022. <a href="https://adrenalin-israel.co.il/agoz-about-the-unit/" target="_blank">https://adrenalin-israel.co.il/agoz-about-the-unit/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Danieli, Michal (1 July 2011). "אגוז: יחידת הקומנדו של זרוע היבשה" [Egoz: The commando unit of the ground force]. Mako (in Hebrew). Retrieved 26 September 2024. <a href="https://mobile.mako.co.il/pzm-units/special-units/Article-41f3be567a5d031006.htm" target="_blank">https://mobile.mako.co.il/pzm-units/special-units/Article-41f3be567a5d031006.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Zitun, Yoav (7 July 2015). "IDF to unite elite units in new commando brigade". Ynetnews. Retrieved 26 November 2015. <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4677041,00.html" target="_blank">http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4677041,00.html</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Egoz Unit". IDF. Retrieved 15 August 2023. <a href="https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/units/ground-forces/infantry/egoz-unit/" target="_blank">https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/units/ground-forces/infantry/egoz-unit/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"IDF Unit Innovation". Defense News. 20 June 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2023. <a href="https://www.defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/2020/06/20/idf-innovations-in-commando-units/" target="_blank">https://www.defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/2020/06/20/idf-innovations-in-commando-units/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Nabi Hazuri Memorial Site". Israel Government Portal. Retrieved 15 August 2023. <a href="https://www.gov.il/en/Departments/memorial_sites/egoz-memorial" target="_blank">https://www.gov.il/en/Departments/memorial_sites/egoz-memorial</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Barak, Amir (1999). Egoz: The History of an Elite Unit. Ma'ariv Publishing. p. 12. <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Tamir, Moshe (2005). War Without a Name. IDF Publishing. p. 141-142. <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Golani's Egoz Unit: Anti-Guerilla Warfare". IDF Blog. Retrieved 15 August 2023. <a href="https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/golani-elite-units/egoz-operations/" target="_blank">https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/golani-elite-units/egoz-operations/</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"Egoz Unit Specialized for Guerilla Warfare". Haaretz. 5 December 1996. Retrieved 15 August 2023. <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/egoz-unit-fighting-hezbollah/" target="_blank">https://www.haaretz.com/egoz-unit-fighting-hezbollah/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"Former Egoz Unit Commander Awarded for Bravery". Nrg.co.il. 19 August 2005. Retrieved 15 August 2023. <a href="https://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART/973/343.html" target="_blank">https://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART/973/343.html</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"Egoz First Operation: Killing Two Militants". Defense News. Retrieved 15 August 2023. <a href="https://www.defensenews.com/global/2018/03/30/israels-elite-units-operation-success/" target="_blank">https://www.defensenews.com/global/2018/03/30/israels-elite-units-operation-success/</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>"Egoz Unit Kills Hadi Nasrallah". Israel Hayom. 14 May 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2023. <a href="https://www.israelhayom.com/archives/nasrallahs-son-operation/" target="_blank">https://www.israelhayom.com/archives/nasrallahs-son-operation/</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>"Israel-Hezbollah Exchange: Nasrallah's Son". Israel Hayom. 16 January 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2023. <a href="https://www.israelhayom.com/israel-hezbollah-body-exchange-2008/" target="_blank">https://www.israelhayom.com/israel-hezbollah-body-exchange-2008/</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Tamir, Moshe (2005). War Without a Name. IDF Publishing. p. 176-179. <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>"Egoz Unit Adapted to Counter-Terrorism". Ynetnews. 22 February 2002. Retrieved 15 August 2023. <a href="https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3056781,00.html" target="_blank">https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3056781,00.html</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Harel, Amos (2004). The Seventh War: Israel's Fight Against Terrorism. Yedioth Books. p. 241. <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>"Egoz Soldiers Killed in Lebanon War". Ynet. 21 July 2006. Retrieved 15 August 2023. <a href="https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3279298,00.html" target="_blank">https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3279298,00.html</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>"Battle of Maroun al-Ras: 20 Hezbollah Fighters Killed". Ynetnews. Retrieved 15 August 2023. <a href="https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3281981,00.html" target="_blank">https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3281981,00.html</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>"Son of Hamas Leader Killed by Egoz Unit". Nrg.co.il. 16 January 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2023. <a href="https://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART/684/244.html" target="_blank">https://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART/684/244.html</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>"Egoz Unit Commander Injured by Anti-Tank Missile". Ynetnews. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2023. <a href="https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4547830,00.html" target="_blank">https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4547830,00.html</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>"New Commander for Egoz Unit". Ynetnews. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2023. <a href="https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4548017,00.html" target="_blank">https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4548017,00.html</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:23"><p>"Egoz Parting from Golani". Israel National News. Retrieved 15 August 2023. <a href="https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/312745" target="_blank">https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/312745</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:24"><p>"Egoz Soldier Killed in Jenin". Walla!. Retrieved 15 August 2023. <a href="https://www.walla.co.il/article/3591660" target="_blank">https://www.walla.co.il/article/3591660</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:25"><p>https://www.idf.il/%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%A4%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%97%D7%9C%D7%9C%D7%99-%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%9C%D7%97%D7%9E%D7%94/?unit=%D7%97%D7%98%D7%99%D7%91%D7%AA+%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%93%D7%95&1/ <a href="https://www.idf.il/%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%A4%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%97%D7%9C%D7%9C%D7%99-%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%9C%D7%97%D7%9E%D7%94/?unit=%D7%97%D7%98%D7%99%D7%91%D7%AA+%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%93%D7%95&1/" target="_blank">https://www.idf.il/%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%A4%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%97%D7%9C%D7%9C%D7%99-%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%9C%D7%97%D7%9E%D7%94/?unit=%D7%97%D7%98%D7%99%D7%91%D7%AA+%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%93%D7%95&1/</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>