Oz Brigade
{{short description|Israeli military special operations brigade}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 89th Brigade "Oz"
| native_name =
| image = 89th Oz Brigade.png
| image_size = 150px
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| caption = 89th brigade patch
| dates = 2015–present
| country = {{Flag|Israel}}
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| branch = {{army|Israel}}
| type =
| role = Commando
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| command_structure = Central Command
98th Division
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| nickname = Commando brigade
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| motto = "Thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies" (Genesis 49:8) Hebrew: "יָדְךָ בְּעֹרֶף אֹיְבֶיךָ", English translation from KJV. [https://www.idf.il/%D7%90%D7%AA%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%97%D7%98%D7%99%D7%91%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%93%D7%95/%D7%90%D7%95%D7%93%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%93%D7%95/ IDF Official website]
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| current_commander = Brigadier General Omer Cohen
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The 89th Brigade "Oz" ("Courage" in Hebrew) is a special forces brigade of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).Gabi Siboni and Gal Perl Finkel, [http://www.inss.org.il/publication/idf-exercises-cyprus-crete/?offset=0&posts=944&type=399 The IDF Exercises in Cyprus and Crete], INSS Insight No. 945, June 28, 2017. It was established in December 2015. The new brigade, dubbed the Commando Brigade, is composed solely of infantry special-operations units removed from their previous chain of command structures to create a new tactical formation.{{cite news|last1=Zeff|first1=Michael|title=New Israeli Special Operations Infantry Brigade|url=http://www.specops-dhp.com/defense-news/new-israeli-special-operations-infantry-brigade/|access-date=14 January 2016|work=Special Forces International|agency=Tazpit News Agency|date=27 December 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214084611/http://www.specops-dhp.com/defense-news/new-israeli-special-operations-infantry-brigade/|archive-date=14 February 2016}} Commanded by Colonel Omer Cohen, the brigade operates as part of the 98th Division.{{cite news|title=Israel Stands Up New Commando Brigade|url=http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2016/01/07/israel-stands-up-new-commando-brigade/78422902/|access-date=14 January 2016|work=DefenseNews|date=7 January 2016}}{{Cite web |title=מפקד חדש לעוצבת הקומנדו: אלוף-משנה עומר כהן |url=https://www.inn.co.il/news/603321 |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=www.inn.co.il}}
Ideation and development
File:Iron Swords-Maglan unit-003.jpg in February 2024]]
According to the IDF, the Commando Brigade is the brainchild of Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot and is the implementation of operational lessons learned during Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014 and the Second Lebanon War in 2006. According to the 98th Division Commander, the brigade is an integration of the elite teams of the Infantry Corps under one command, and a body expected to lead operational and tactical thinking in order to establish a new warfare doctrine.{{cite news|last1=Caspit|first1=Ben|title=Is IDF gearing up to fight the Islamic State?|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/07/israel-idf-new-commando-unit-gadi-eizenkot-is-hamas.html|access-date=14 January 2016|work=Al-Monitor|date=8 July 2015}} The new Brigade is intended to provide special operations units a previously lacking centre of gravity.
The concept of a commando brigade was developed by IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot during the formulation of the 5-years military plan. The new brigade is said to draw further parallels between Israel's special forces and American 75th Ranger Regiment.{{cite news|last1=Zitun|first1=Yoav|title=IDF to unite elite units in new commando brigade|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4677041,00.html|access-date=14 January 2016|work=Ynetnews.com|date=7 July 2015}}
Other special-operations units, Sayeret Matkal, Shayetet 13, Shaldag, Oketz and Yahalom continue to operate independently.{{cite web|title=IDF Commando Brigade unveiled amid threats from Nasrallah and Al-Baghdadi|url=https://warsclerotic.wordpress.com/2015/12/28/idf-commando-brigade-unveiled-amid-threats-from-nasrallah-and-al-baghdadi/|website=A Sclerotic Goes to War|access-date=14 January 2016|date=27 December 2015}}
= Brigade organization 2024 =
The 89th Brigade consists of three (formerly four) special operations units of the IDF: The brigade had a fourth battalion, the now defunct Unit 845, or "Rimon", desert warfare unit, which was absorbed into Maglan in June 2018.[https://www.idf.il/%D7%90%D7%AA%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%97%D7%98%D7%99%D7%91%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%93%D7%95/%D7%98%D7%A7%D7%A1-%D7%A1%D7%92%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%AA-%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%9F/ יחידת "רימון" נסגרת ומוטמעת ב"מגלן". תיעוד מסכם מ-8 שנות פעילות מבצעית], Israel Defense Forces website, February 07, 2018 (in Hebrew) As of 2023, the brigade consists of:
{{tree list}}
- 25px 89th Commando Brigade Oz/Courage
- Unit 212 "Maglan" – special reconnaissance unitGal Perl Finkel, [https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Dont-throw-out-the-baby-with-the-bath-water-564453 Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water], The Jerusalem Post, August 09, 2018.
- Unit 217 "Duvdevan" – undercover counter terrorism unit
- Unit 621 "Egoz" – guerilla warfare unitGal Perl Finkel, [https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Wisdom-is-in-the-timing-610770 Wisdom is in the timing], The Jerusalem Post, December 12, 2019.
- Commando School "Oz"
- Aerial Medical Unit
- Logistic Battalion
- Signal Company
{{tree list/end}}
Commanders
- Brigadier General David Zini (2015–2017)
- Brigadier General Avi Blot (2017–2018)
- Colonel Kobi Heller (2018 –2021)
- Brigadier General Meni Liberty (2021–2023)
- Colonel Omer Cohen (2023-present)
Insignia
The insignia chosen for the new brigade depicts the Hebrew letter Quf (ק), the first letter in the Hebrew word for Commando (קומנדו), composed of a commando knife rising from the sea and a double headed arrow above it. It symbolizes the special designation of the brigade and its mobility, by air, land or sea.{{cite news|last1=Gross|first1=Judah Ari|title=IDF goes commando with formation of new elite brigade|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-goes-commando-with-formation-of-new-elite-brigade/|access-date=14 January 2016|work=The Times of Israel|date=28 December 2015}}
See also
- Special forces of Israel
- Mista'arvim
- 11th 'Yiftach' Brigade - functions as the reserve commando brigade in the IDF
References
{{reflist}}
{{commons category|Oz Brigade}}
{{Israel Defense Forces}}