Egoz Unit

{{Short description|Israel Defense Forces commando and special forces unit specialized in anti-guerilla warfare}}{{pp-extended|small=yes}}

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = Unit 621

| native_name = Yehidat Egoz

| image = Egoz Unit 621 emblem.png

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Egoz Unit insignia

| dates = 1995–present

| country = Israel

| branch = {{army|Israel}}

| type = Special Forces

| role = Anti-guerilla warfare
Special reconnaissance
Direct action

| size = Battalion

| command_structure = Central Command
98th Division
89th Brigade

| garrison =

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| nickname =

| colors =

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| equipment =

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| battles = South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)
Second Intifada
2006 Lebanon War
Operation Protective Edge
Gaza war
Israeli invasion of Lebanon (2024–present)

| decoration =

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| disbanded =

| current_commander = Classified

| commander1 =

| commander1_label =

| notable_commanders = Erez Zuckerman

| aircraft_transport =

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}}

File:סיכת אגוז.jpg

The Egoz Unit ({{langx|he|יחידת אגוז|Yehidat Egoz}}, lit. "Walnut Unit", Egoz being the acronym for "anti-guerrilla and small-scale warfare"),{{Cite web |title=יחידת אגוז: חטיבת הקומנדו – הכל על היחידה – איך מתקבלים |trans-title= Egoz Unit: the commando brigade – everything about the unit – how to be admitted in |lang=he-IL |date=12 May 2021 |website= adrenalin-israel.co.il |url=https://adrenalin-israel.co.il/agoz-about-the-unit/ |access-date= 23 April 2022}}{{Cite web |author= Danieli, Michal |title= אגוז: יחידת הקומנדו של זרוע היבשה |trans-title= Egoz: The commando unit of the ground force |lang=he-IL |date=1 July 2011 |website= Mako |url=https://mobile.mako.co.il/pzm-units/special-units/Article-41f3be567a5d031006.htm |access-date= 26 September 2024}} officially Unit 621, is an elite Israel Defense Forces (IDF) commando unit specializing in anti-guerrilla warfare, special reconnaissance, and direct action. It is a part of the IDF Central Command's 89th Brigade (commonly referred to as the commando brigade).{{Cite news |last= Zitun |first= Yoav |title= IDF to unite elite units in new commando brigade |newspaper= Ynetnews |date=7 July 2015 |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4677041,00.html |access-date= 26 November 2015 }}

The unit specializes in combat in dense terrain, fieldcraft, camouflage, and guerrilla warfare—close-range fighting where the fighter's skill and professionalism are critical to success. The unit operates in all terrains and theaters, focusing mainly on the northern sector.{{Cite web |title=Egoz Unit |website=IDF |url=https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/units/ground-forces/infantry/egoz-unit/ |access-date=15 August 2023}}

Egoz also has a unique ordnance platoon, tasked with developing creative solutions and technological innovations to address new challenges encountered on the battlefield and to provide defense against new methods of enemy attack.{{Cite web |title=IDF Unit Innovation |website=Defense News |date=20 June 2020 |url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/2020/06/20/idf-innovations-in-commando-units/ |access-date=15 August 2023}}

The unit's memorial site, commemorating its various incarnations, is located at Nabi Hazuri in the northern Golan Heights.{{Cite web |title=Nabi Hazuri Memorial Site |website=Israel Government Portal |url=https://www.gov.il/en/Departments/memorial_sites/egoz-memorial |access-date=15 August 2023}}

In its first iteration, the unit was established in 1956 as Sayeret Egoz, a Northern Command reconnaissance unit, and operated until the end of the Yom Kippur War in 1974.{{Cite book |title=Egoz: The History of an Elite Unit |last=Barak |first=Amir |publisher=Ma'ariv Publishing |year=1999 |page=12}}

File:Egoz unit 1956-1974.png

History

The current Egoz unit was formed in January 1995 from a team of Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit soldiers, as part of the Golani Brigade. It was named after the original Sayeret Egoz unit that operated under Northern Command until 1974.{{Cite book |last=Tamir |first=Moshe |title=War Without a Name |publisher=IDF Publishing |year=2005 |page=141-142}} The initiative to establish the unit was driven by then-Chief of Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak and Northern Command Commander Amiram Levin, who sought to revolutionize the fight against Hezbollah through new combat doctrines and tactics. The unit was attached to the Golani Brigade due to the claim by its commander, Moshe Kaplinsky, that the new unit required the support, mentorship, and logistics of an experienced unit, well-versed in combat in Lebanon.{{Cite web |title=Golani's Egoz Unit: Anti-Guerilla Warfare |website=IDF Blog |url=https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/golani-elite-units/egoz-operations/ |access-date=15 August 2023}}

File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Soldiers from the Elite Egoz Unit Take Their Final Test (2).jpg

Egoz was created as a guerrilla warfare unit specifically to fight Hezbollah in the Security Zone of southern Lebanon.{{Cite web |title=Egoz Unit Specialized for Guerilla Warfare |website=Haaretz |date=5 December 1996 |url=https://www.haaretz.com/egoz-unit-fighting-hezbollah/ |access-date=15 August 2023}} Its first commander was Erez Zuckerman, a former member of Shayetet 13, who led the unit through most of its initial operations.{{Cite web |title=Former Egoz Unit Commander Awarded for Bravery |website=Nrg.co.il |date=19 August 2005 |url=https://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART/973/343.html |access-date=15 August 2023}} 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 Hula outpost.{{Cite web |title=Egoz First Operation: Killing Two Militants |website=Defense News |url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/2018/03/30/israels-elite-units-operation-success/ |access-date=15 August 2023}}

In 1997, Moshe (Chico) Tamir 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 Hadi Nasrallah, the son of Hezbollah's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.{{Cite web |title=Egoz Unit Kills Hadi Nasrallah |website=Israel Hayom |url=https://www.israelhayom.com/archives/nasrallahs-son-operation/ |date=14 May 2010 |access-date=15 August 2023}} The bodies of the militants were later returned to Lebanon in exchange for the remains of Shayetet 13 commando Itamar Eliyahu, who had been killed in the Shayetet Disaster.{{Cite web |title=Israel-Hezbollah Exchange: Nasrallah's Son |website=Israel Hayom |url=https://www.israelhayom.com/israel-hezbollah-body-exchange-2008/ |date=16 January 2008 |access-date=15 August 2023}} 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.{{Cite book |last=Tamir |first=Moshe |title=War Without a Name |publisher=IDF Publishing |year=2005 |page=176-179}}

= 2000s =

File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Like a Rock.jpg

Following Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, the unit continued its operations along the northern border, while also becoming involved in counter-terrorism operations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.{{Cite web |title=Egoz Unit Adapted to Counter-Terrorism |website=Ynetnews |date=22 February 2002 |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3056781,00.html |access-date=15 August 2023}} Under the command of Tamir Yadai, Egoz participated in Operation Defensive Shield, including the Battle of Ramallah.{{Cite book |last=Harel |first=Amos |title=The Seventh War: Israel's Fight Against Terrorism |publisher=Yedioth Books |year=2004 |page=241}}

= Second Lebanon War =

On 20 July 2006, during the Second Lebanon War, five soldiers from Egoz were killed, and six others were wounded in a battle near the moshav of Avivim, while clearing Hezbollah bunkers in the village of Maroun al-Ras.{{Cite web |title=Egoz Soldiers Killed in Lebanon War |website=Ynet |date=21 July 2006 |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3279298,00.html |access-date=15 August 2023}} According to IDF reports, about 20 Hezbollah militants were killed during the Battle of Maroun al-Ras.{{Cite web |title=Battle of Maroun al-Ras: 20 Hezbollah Fighters Killed |website=Ynetnews |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3281981,00.html |access-date=15 August 2023}}

Following the war, the unit conducted a series of offensive operations in the Gaza Strip, alongside the Golani Brigade and Givati Brigade. In one operation in January 2008, Egoz forces, supported by armor and air force units, killed 18 militants, including the son of senior Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar.{{Cite web |title=Son of Hamas Leader Killed by Egoz Unit |website=Nrg.co.il |date=16 January 2008 |url=https://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART/684/244.html |access-date=15 August 2023}} During Operation Protective Edge in 2014, the unit killed approximately 50 militants while fighting in the Shejaiya neighborhood. On the 14th day of the operation, the unit's commander, Lt. Col. Yonatan Rumm, was seriously injured by an anti-tank missile.{{Cite web |title=Egoz Unit Commander Injured by Anti-Tank Missile |website=Ynetnews |date=22 July 2014 |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4547830,00.html |access-date=15 August 2023}} His predecessor, Lt. Col. Pini Yosef, took over and led the unit in further combat operations.{{Cite web |title=New Commander for Egoz Unit |website=Ynetnews |date=22 July 2014 |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4548017,00.html |access-date=15 August 2023}}

= Establishment of the Commando Brigade and after =

On 24 December 2015, Egoz officially parted ways with the Golani Brigade,{{Cite web |title=Egoz Parting from Golani |website=Israel National News |url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/312745 |access-date=15 August 2023}} and on 27 December, it joined the newly formed Oz Brigade.{{fact|date=October 2024}}

The unit participated in Operation Guardian of the Walls in Gaza, targeting dozens of anti-tank and rocket-launching sites and killing multiple militants.{{fact|date=October 2024}}

In July 2023, Egoz took part in Operation House and Garden in the area of Jenin refugee camp, conducting offensive operations and dismantling terrorist infrastructure. During the operation, Egoz soldier Sgt. David Yehuda Yitzhak was killed in a firefight.{{Cite web |title=Egoz Soldier Killed in Jenin |website=Walla! |url=https://www.walla.co.il/article/3591660 |access-date=15 August 2023}}

The unit has lost 17 soldiers since the start of the Gaza war (as of October 2024).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/

Unit Commanders

class="wikitable" !Name	Term	Notes
Erez Zuckerman	1995–1997	Awarded Chief of Staff Citation, later commander of the Bashan Division
Moshe Tamir	1997–1998	Awarded Northern Command Citation, later commander of the Company Commanders and Battalion Commanders Course
Hagai Peleg	1998–1999	Awarded Northern Command Citation, later commander of the Yamam
Hagai Mordechai	1999–2000	Later Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces
Tamir Yadai	2000–2002	Later Commander of the Ground Forces
Avi Peled	2002–2003	Later IDF attaché to India
Ofek Buchris	2003–2004	Awarded Chief of Staff Citation, later commander of IDF Command and Staff College
Mordechai Kahana	2004–2006	Later Chief Intelligence Officer
Yaniv Assor	2006–2008	Later Chief of Personnel Directorate
David Zini	2008–2010	Later Commander of the General Staff Corps
Shlomi Binder	2010–2012	Later Chief of IDF Operations Branch