Nahal Brigade

It was established as a separate brigade in 1982,{{cite web|url=http://www.idf.il/1515-en/Dover.aspx|title=IDF - Israel Defense Forces|publisher=idf.il|access-date=13 June 2014}} in response to the growing need for infantry manpower, before the 1982 Lebanon War. Its 50th battalion was originally part of the Paratrooper Brigade in the 1950s. It is formed mainly from regular draftees, as well as from a core of soldiers from the Nahal group, part of the Nahal movement, which combines social volunteerism, agriculture (historically the establishment of kibbutz farming communities) and military service.{{cite web|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/nahal.html|title=Nachal Infantry Brigade|publisher=Jewish Virtual Library|access-date=13 June 2014}} Many Mahal foreign volunteers are also known to serve in the Nahal Brigade, providing a highly motivated and disciplined core of soldiers for the brigade.{{cite web|url=http://www.mahal-idf-volunteers.org/links/military.htm|title=Mahal Volunteers - Links, IDF and Military Related|author=Raphael Katz|publisher=mahal-idf-volunteers.org|access-date=13 June 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Features/Front-Lines/Behind-the-Lines-Serving-from-the-heart|title=Behind the Lines: Serving from the heart |work=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=13 June 2014}}

Nahal Brigade soldiers are distinguished by their light green berets,{{cite web|url=http://www.idfblog.com/2013/04/10/from-sunrise-to-sunset-with-the-nahal-brigade/|title=From Sunset to Sunrise with the Nahal Brigade|publisher=Israel Defense Forces|access-date=13 June 2014}} which earned them the nickname "sticklights" (Hebrew for glowsticks). The brigade is composed of four active-duty battalions – 50, 931, 932, and 934 (the Gadsar, Hebrew for reconnaissance battalion) – and the various companies on its training base, which together comprise Battalion 933.

It operates on a rotational basis on the most volatile Israeli borders (Lebanon,{{cite web|url=http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/20thcentury/articles/secondlebanonwar.aspx|title=Military History Online - Second Lebanon War|publisher=militaryhistoryonline.com|access-date=13 June 2014}} Syria{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/Features/Front-Lines/Security-and-Defense-On-the-border-with-Syria-the-land-of-war-329682|title=On the border with Syria, the land of war|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=25 October 2013 |access-date=13 June 2014}} and Gaza{{cite web|url=http://www.idfblog.com/2012/02/25/chefs-border-taglit-cooks-fix-nahal-brigades-soldiers-lunch/|title=Chefs at the Border: Special Lunch for Soldiers|publisher=Israel Defense Forces|access-date=13 June 2014}}) as well as in the West Bank territories.{{cite journal|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.586162|title=Why training will be the Israeli army's next big battle |journal=TheMarker |publisher=haaretz.com|access-date=13 June 2014}} It is tasked with regular patrol and observation operations on the borders, counter-terrorist operations and riot control in the West Bank as well as tactical assault support to police operations in the territories.{{cite web|url=http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/14550/idf-soldier-wounded-terrorist-grenade-attack/|title=IDF Soldier Wounded in Grenade Attack - Breaking Israel News|date=2 May 2014 |publisher=breakingisraelnews.com|access-date=13 June 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/71308#.U4IQVSitvGo|title=Two Terrorists Killed - Others Captured - Latest News Briefs - Arutz Sheva|date=31 October 2004 |publisher=israelnationalnews.com|access-date=13 June 2014}}

It has operated in all major wars and large-scale operations since its inception, playing key roles during the First and Second Lebanon War and the First and Second Intifada.

On 10 June 1982, the Israeli air force mistook a column of IDF Nahal forces for a Syrian commando unit. An IAF F-4 Phantom attacked the Battalion 931, advancing in open APCs in south-eastern Lebanon with cluster ammunition. The unit suffered 24 soldiers killed and 108 wounded, with a further 30 soldiers shell shocked.http://resilience.har-el.com/Hebrew/Event-DB/66/event.htm אירוע כשל מספר 66: ירי פאנטומים במלחמת לבנון על גדוד 931 בואדי ביאנור

https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4239909,00.html פנטומים יורים עלינו. 30 שנות הלם קרב ynet 9 June 2012,

{{cite news |url=https://www.makorrishon.co.il/nrg/online/1/ART1/033/536.html |title=ידידותי למשתבש |publisher=Maariv NRG |author=Omri Assenheim |date=13 January 2006 |accessdate=20 March 2021}} It was the worst friendly-fire incident in the history of the IDF.

On 4 September 1982, a four-member Palestinian squad attacked an observation post manned by eight soldiers from the Nahal brigade. All the Israeli soldiers surrendered without firing a single bullet. Israel was then forced, in two separate exchange deals, to release almost 6000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the captured Nahal soldiers. The deals were severely criticized in Israel, for being extremely "lopsided". The less than heroic behaviour of the Nahal brigade soldiers was also pointed out. The Nahal Brigade Commander Gilboa went as far as branding the soldiers of his own brigade as "eight cowards".Baruch Neah, מפקד הנח"ל על השבויים: "הם היו שמונה פחדנים", ("Nahal Commander on Prisoners: They were Eight Cowards"), Maariv 10 June 1985

In November 1987, two PFLP-GC fighters managed to slip through the Lebanese-Israeli border on hang gliders. One of them was cornered and killed by the IDF. The second fighter, Miloud Najah from Tunisia, avoided capture and attacked an IDF base outside Kiryat Shemona in northern Israel, manned by Nahal brigade soldiers. In a two minutes exchange of fire, Najah succeeded in killing six Nahal soldiers and wounding another 10, before being killed himself. The Palestinian victory was widely celebrated in the Palestinian Occupied Territories and contributed to the outbreak of the First Intifada.

In November 2002 three Nahal soldiers were killed in an ambush in the Palestinian city of Hebron. Another nine IDF soldiers and security personnel were killed in the incident, including Col. Weinberg, the commander of the Hebron brigade, were killed in the clash. The battle was widely seen as a victory for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, who lost three fighters in the incident.

From August 2019 to June 2021, the brigade was led by Yisrael Shomer. On 28 June, {{ill|Sharon Asman|he|שרון אסמן}} was appointed as the new commander. However, three days later, on 1 July, Asman suddenly died during morning training. As a result, Shomer was issued command again until a permanent replacement could be found.[https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-senior-israeli-military-commander-dies-after-sudden-collapse-during-training-1.9959895 "Senior Israeli Military Commander Dies After Sudden Collapse During Training."] Haaretz, 1 July 2021.

On 7 October 2023, brigade commander Lt. Col. Yonatan Steinberg was killed during the Gaza War.{{cite web |title=יוסי יהושוע - Yossi Yehoshua |url=https://twitter.com/YehoshuaYosi/status/1710751853510602938 |publisher=X (formerly Twitter) |access-date=7 October 2023 |language=en}}

In April 2024, Nochi Mandel, the chief of staff of the Nahal Brigade, was dismissed following the World Central Kitchen aid convoy attack that killed seven aid workers. Mandel, a religious nationalist Israeli settler, had previously signed a letter calling for the flow of aid into Gaza to be restricted.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/israel-hamas-war-gaza-idf-aid-strike-world-central-kitchen/ Top IDF commander in aid strike wanted to block humanitarian supplies into Gaza]

The Nahal Brigade has lost 67 soldiers and commanders during the war, including during the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel itself.{{Cite web |last=Fabian|first=Emanuel|title=IDF says Nahal Brigade readying for future operations after withdrawing from northern Gaza |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-nahal-brigade-readying-for-future-operations-after-withdrawing-from-northern-gaza/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}

{{See also|Israel Defense Forces|IDF Code of Ethics}}File:Nahal-kumta.jpg

File:Nahal Brigade Snipers with M24.jpgs (with the M24 Sniper Weapon System) during training]]

Nahal Infantry Brigade soldiers undertake around four months of basic training and around four months of advanced training in the Israeli desert.{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Testing-infantry-soldiers-combat-fitness-321590|title=Testing infantry soldiers' combat fitness|work=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=13 June 2014}}

Consists primarily of physical conditioning, Krav Maga, rifle training and the qualifying obstacle course. Recruits begin their desert marches at this point in order to prepare them for their 70+ kilometers, depending on company beret march at the end of advanced training. These marches are performed fully kitted in order to prepare them for battlefield marching. Rifle training aims to perfect recruits' day and night shooting skills prior to advanced training.

Recruits undergo two-man team live firing exercises in the field. Weapon understanding and maintenance is an important element of basic rifle training. Recruits are taught army values and weapon safety and responsibility. Recruits are introduced to long field exercises in the desert. There they learn to survive for the first time on combat rations, limited water, extreme desert heat, sleep deprivation, and field injuries all while being subjected to intense physical activity. Camouflage,{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/idfonline/5912727468/in/set-72157625381918396|title=Camouflage training of the infantry Nahal brigade|date=11 February 2008|access-date=13 June 2014|via=Flickr}} fortification construction, combat first aid, and stealth maneuvering will also be taught at this stage.{{cite web|url=http://www.garinmahal.com/index.php/lone-soldier-benefits/idf-units/nahal|title=Nahal|publisher=garinmahal.com|access-date=13 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719112903/http://garinmahal.com/index.php/lone-soldier-benefits/idf-units/nahal|archive-date=19 July 2012}}

Recruits will be expected to be fully proficient with their rifles, both maintenance and shooting. Recruits displaying certain aptitudes will be sent on various specialist courses: sharpshooter training, squad automatic gunner training,{{cite web|url=http://www.behrmanhouse.com/rl/heroes-of-the-israel-defense-forces|title=Heroes of the Israel Defense Forces|publisher=Behrman House Publishing|access-date=13 June 2014}} tactical MATADOR-missile training,{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/The-future-infantry-soldier-lethal-fast-and-victorious|title=The future infantry soldier: lethal, fast and... victorious|work=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=13 June 2014}} radio operator's course, advanced camouflage and fortifications course, combat paramedic course,{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4446122,00.html|title=First responder: Meet IDF medic who treats wounded Syrians - Israel News, Ynetnews|newspaper=Ynetnews |date=27 October 2013 |publisher=ynetnews.com|access-date=13 June 2014|last1=Zitun |first1=Yoav }}

All recruits learn how to conduct live-fire drills at a squad, platoon, and company level. Recruits learn how to operate both on open field battlefields, desert and mountain, and in urban terrain.{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Preparing-for-the-northern-arena-Nahal-Reconnaissance-Battalion-340750|title=Preparing for the northern arena: Nahal Reconnaissance Battalion|work=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=13 June 2014}}

After advanced training soldiers undergo a further stage of specialist training, combined with border guarding. During this time soldiers will undergo advanced urban warfare training,{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4342378,00.html|title=Officer: If IDF enters Lebanon, we'll have lasting quiet - Israel News, Ynetnews|newspaper=Ynetnews |date=7 February 2013 |publisher=ynetnews.com|access-date=13 June 2014|last1=Zitun |first1=Yoav }} advanced navigation training, open field and mountain fighting training,{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Nahal-battalion-in-surprise-Golan-war-drill-322565|title=Nahal battalion in surprise Golan Heights war drill|work=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=13 June 2014}}

{{tree list}}

• 25px 933rd Infantry Brigade "Nahal"
• 50th Infantry Battalion "Bazelet/Basalt"
• 931st Infantry Battalion "Shaham/Onyx"
• 932nd Infantry Battalion "Granit/Granite"
• (934th) Patrol Battalion "Topaz"
• 7107th Combat Engineer Battalion "Raz" (Reserve)
• Logistics Battalion "Nahal"
• Signals Company "Palhik/Agate"

{{tree list/end}}

Battalions 931 and 932 are composed entirely of soldiers who draft through the Bakum.

Prior to 2006, both groups of prospective 50th battalion soldiers were required to pass a two-day gibbush (selection phase) before being drafted in order to get into the 50th Battalion. Part of the battalion's training comprised a paratrooper course after advanced infantry training, hence Nahal Mutznaḥ, or Airborne Nahal, the name of the battalion before being transferred to the Nahal brigade. Since 2006, both the gibbush and the paratrooper course were dropped and the 50th became a regular infantry battalion. In 2010 Nahal soldiers from the 50th Battalion produced IDF Tick Tock, a viral video of themselves dancing as a flash mob in the streets of Hebron.[http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=180582] Soldiers' 'Tik-Tok' video on YouTube, Yaakov Katz, 7 June 2010, Jerusalem Post.

Soldiers in this battalion undergo an additional eight months of training in krav maga, urban combat, navigation, camouflage, parachuting and other specialized courses. During periods of low intensity conflict, the companies are tasked with capturing enemies of the state and serve as counter-terrorism forces, raiding terrorist homes and hideouts. Gadsar Nahal won the IDF Chief of Staff prize in 2010 for best land combat unit.[http://dover.idf.il/IDF/News_Channels/today/10/12/2705.htm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324150512/http://dover.idf.il/IDF/News_Channels/today/10/12/2705.htm|date=24 March 2012}} IDF website.

File:Flickr_-_Israel_Defense_Forces_-_Camouflage_training_of_the_infantry_Nahal_brigade.jpg|Camouflage training

File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Officers from the Nahal Infantry Brigade.jpg|Nahal soldiers

File:Idf back from lebanon (temp).jpg|Returning to Israel after Second Lebanon War

Image:Nahal Memorial Pardes Hanna11.jpg|Nahal Memorial, Pardes Hanna

• Bhamdoun abduction operation
• IDF code of ethics
• Night of the Gliders

{{Reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline|Nahal Brigade}}
• [http://www.idf.il/1515-en/Dover.aspx IDF website section on Nahal Brigade]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140329140230/http://www.nahal.org.il/ Official Nahal Website] (Hebrew)

Category:Brigades of Israel

Category:Infantry of Israel

Category:Military units and formations established in 1982