LOTAR

{{Short description|Special forces unit of the Israel Defense Forces}}

{{Not to be confused with|Yamam|LOTAR Eilat}}

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = The Counter-Terror School

| native_name = בית הספר ללוט״ר

| image = Lotar.png

| caption = Unit's insignia

| dates = {{Start date and age|1974|paren=yes}}

| country = {{flagcountry|Israel}}

| allegiance = {{armed forces|Israel}}

| type = Counterterrorism school
Special operations unit

| role = Air assault
Anti-tank warfare
Artillery observer
Bomb disposal
CBRN defense
Clandestine operation
Close-quarters battle
Counterterrorism
Covert operation
Desert warfare
Direct action
Executive protection
Hostage rescue
HUMINT
Irregular warfare
Long-range penetration
Military education and training
Mountain warfare
Patrolling
Raiding
Reconnaissance
Special operations
Special reconnaissance
Tracking
Urban warfare

| garrison = Mitkan Adam

| nickname = Unit 707

| motto = מְלַמֵּד יָדַי לַמִּלְחָמָה וְנִחַת קֶשֶׁת־נְחוּשָׁה זְרֹעֹתָי (2 Samuel 22)
"Who trained my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze!"{{cite web|url=https://www.sefaria.org/II_Samuel.22.35?vhe=Tanach_with_Ta%27amei_Hamikra&lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en|title=II Samuel 22:35, JPS, 1985|access-date=30 May 2023|publisher=Sefaria}}

| battles = Second Lebanon War
Operation Cast Lead
Operation Protective Edge

| notable_commanders = Amos Kotzer - Founding Commander

}}

{

"type": "FeatureCollection",

"features": [

{

"type": "Feature",

"properties": {},

"geometry": {

"type": "Point",

"coordinates": [

34.962369,

31.963061

]

}

}

]

}

The LOTAR Unit ({{langx|he|יחידת הלוט"ר}}) stands for: Lochama Be'Terror (לוחמה בטרור), meaning "Combating Terrorism." It is also known as Unit 707 or The Counter-Terror School.

It is tasked primarily with training other IDF units in the areas of anti-irregular military in insurgency areas, counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis management, tactical intelligence gathering, the use of sniper rifles, and various small-scale and short-range warfare scenarios. It also, to a lesser degree, performs these tasks itself.{{cite web |title=IDF Counter-terrorism: Lotar |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/idf-counterterrorism-lotar |access-date=30 May 2023 |publisher=The Jewish Virtual Library (American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise)}} Furthermore the unit has taken on several other responsibilities including the theories of camouflage, the training of special soldiers called "monkeys" (trained in climbing and rappelling),{{Cite web |date=2011-05-19 |title=לוחמה בטרור, העידן החדש |url=https://www.israeldefense.co.il/content/%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%97%D7%9E%D7%94-%D7%91%D7%98%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A8-%D7%94%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%93%D7%9F-%D7%94%D7%97%D7%93%D7%A9 |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Israel Defense |language=he}} and several other training scenarios. Meanwhile if really necessary unit's personnel must carry out military special operations according to assigned missions. Most of them focus on commando style raids, counterterrorism, covert operation, hostage rescue (if necessary), irrgular warfare, tactical intelligence gathering, and tracking high-value targets.

The LOTAR School is housed inside of Mitkan Adam ({{langx|he|מתקן אדם|lit=Adam Base}}),{{Cite book |last=Bennett |first=R. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4JsL8v_sg5wC&q=%22Mitkan+Adam%22+%22Counter-Terrorism+Warfare+School+(Unit-707)%22 |title=Elite Forces |date=2011-08-31 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-0-7535-4764-9 |language=en}} alongside the Oketz Unit{{Cite book |last=USA |first=IBP |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aQazDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Oketz+and+Lotar+to+the+Adam+army+base%22 |title=Israel Intelligence, Security Activities and Operations Handbook Volume 1 Strategic Information and Regulations |publisher=International Business Publications, USA |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-4387-2509-3 |pages=104 |language=en}} and the Oz Brigade, southeast of Tel Aviv within the Hevel Modi'in Regional Council.