{"id":53791,"date":"2023-11-10T23:36:10","date_gmt":"2023-11-10T22:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/?p=53791"},"modified":"2024-11-10T00:23:11","modified_gmt":"2024-11-09T23:23:11","slug":"the-yahalom-special-unit-the-israeli-soldiers-whose-mission-is-to-locate-hamas-tunnels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2023\/11\/10\/the-yahalom-special-unit-the-israeli-soldiers-whose-mission-is-to-locate-hamas-tunnels\/","title":{"rendered":"The Yahalom Special Unit: the Israeli soldiers whose mission is to locate Hamas tunnels"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the challenges facing the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in its ground invasion of the Gaza Strip is Hamas' network of tunnels.<\/p>\n

Not only Jews: the Muslim, Christian and Druze soldiers of the Israeli Army<\/a><\/rel>
\nMitznefet, the history of the helmet cover used by Israeli Army soldiers<\/a><\/rel><\/p>\n

This Palestinian terrorist group has a large part of its facilities in underground galleries built under hospitals, housing blocks and other civilian buildings<\/strong>, using them as human shields, which is a war crime according to the Conventions of Geneva 1949.<\/p>\n

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To combat in this type of environment, in 1995 the IDF created the Yahalom Special Unit<\/strong>, dependent on the Combat Engineering Corps of the Israeli Ground Forces. The unit is based at Camp Emmanuel, in central Israel, and some data about it is classified<\/strong>, starting with the number of soldiers in it.<\/p>\n

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The IDF website defines<\/a> Yahalom as the \"tip of the spear\" of the Combat Engineering Corps: \"the unit is trained to deal with special engineering tasks that are unique to it, such as the underground and hidden terror tunnels<\/strong> as well as sabotage.\"<\/em><\/p>\n

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According to the IDF, this unit \"is the professional and superior authority for handling of dangerous ammunition and weapons<\/strong>, and Yahalom has provided assistance to IDF units in special engineering tasks with ground and water obstacles. The unit is headed by an officer with the rank of colonel<\/strong>\"<\/em>, so it is likely to have the size of a regiment.<\/p>\n

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Yahalom played a key role in Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014<\/strong>, carrying out the destruction of Hamas terrorists' tunnel infrastructure in Gaza as well as defending Israeli forces, for which it doubled its number of soldiers, doubling its capabilities.<\/p>\n

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Yahalom's missions include special operations of sabotage, demolition and explosion of buildings<\/strong>, sabotage of enemy infrastructure, handling of explosives, preparation of explosive devices and bombs, neutralization of enemy explosive devices<\/strong >, clearing complex minefields, locating and destruction of terrorist tunnels<\/strong>, being especially known for this last mission.<\/p>\n

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To carry out their missions, Yahalom use explosive disposal robots and other remotely guided systems<\/strong>, which reduces the risk of casualties in the dangerous missions that this unit faces.<\/p>\n

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Yahalom is divided into several specialized units.<\/strong> The Samur Unit<\/strong> (Weasel) is in charge of locating and destroying terrorist tunnels. They also have an anti-aircraft artillery unit, Sapir<\/strong> (Sapphire), in charge of eliminating enemy ammunition. Another of its units, Midron Mushlag<\/strong> (Nevada Slope), specializes in close-quarters combat. Yahalom also has an explosives disposal unit, SAP<\/strong>, and another unit specialized in disabling weapons of mass destruction, Sayfan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The IDF has published today an interesting video dedicated to this unit<\/strong>, which shows some images of their training:<\/p>\n