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Caracal Battalion

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33rd "Caracal" Battalion
Active2000–Current
Country Israel
BranchGround Forces
TypeInfantry
Part ofParan Brigade, Southern Command
Motto(s)"The winning combination"
ColorsLight yellow with brown camouflage beret, Orange & Bordeaux Flag
EngagementsAl-Aqsa Intifadah; 2005 Gaza withdrawal; 2006 Israel-Lebanon War; Gaza war[1]
Commanders
Current
commander		Lt. Col. Or Ben Yehuda
Beret doffing ceremony at Masada

The 33rd "Caracal" Battalion (Hebrew: גדוד קרקל) is an infantry combat battalion of the Israel Defense Forces, one of the three fully combat units (alongside the 'Lions of Jordan Battalion' and the 'Cheetah Battalion') in the Israeli military's Paran Brigade that are composed of both male and female soldiers.[2] It is named after the caracal, a small cat whose sexes appear the same.[3] As of 2009, approximately 70% of the battalion was female.[2][4]

The Caracal Battalion is unique among the border patrol battalions as apart from its infantry units, it includes a tank unit made from female soldiers entirely. The squad (called Pere Squad) was formed after a multiple year long pilot which tested the ability to involve women in the Armored Corps.

History

Cadets' first day in the Caracal Battalion

Prior to Caracal's formation in 2000, women were barred from serving in direct combat. The unit has since been tasked with patrolling the Israeli-Egyptian border. It took part in Israel's unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2005.[5]

On 21 September 2012, three heavily armed Egyptian militants,[6][7] who were dressed in civilian clothes,[8] armed with two explosive belts,[9][10] and carrying rifles and 3 RPG launchers,[9] approached the Egypt-Israel border near Mount Harif,[11] at an area where the Egypt–Israel barrier remained incomplete. At the time of the attack, Israel had completed the construction of about 200 kilometers from the fence, while only 40 kilometers were remaining — including the area of Mount Harif — a project which the IDF estimated to complete during 2013.[12][13] The militants opened fire on a group of IDF soldiers from the Artillery Corps, who were safeguarding civilian workers who were constructing the border fence. The militants began the attack when they opened fire at a small group of IDF soldiers, shooting at them from approximately hundred meters, as they were giving water to a group of 10 illegal immigrants from Africa who were crossing the border as well.[14][15] Members of the Caracal Battalion [7] rushed to the scene of the attack and engaged in a firefight with the militants. During the exchange of fire, the explosive belt on one of the militants detonated.[7] Eventually the IDF forces at the site managed to kill the remaining two militants.[11][16] One of the militants was killed by a female combat soldier from the Caracal Battalion.[17][18]

In October 2014, a jeep of the battalion was attacked by militants from the Egyptian border with gunfire and an anti-tank missile. Two soldiers were injured. One of the injured, a female officer, Captain Or Ben-Yehuda, nonetheless dismounted from the jeep and returned fire killing one militant in the fire-fight.[19]

In November 2017, Caracal officially became part of the border array (alongside the 'Lions of Jordan Battalion' and the 'Cheetah Battalion') and replaced the green beret with a light yellow and brown camouflage.

While Caracal is a mixed gender battalion, it has been 70% female since 2009. Previously a part of the 512th Sagi Brigade of the Southern Command, the battalion currently operates under the command of the Paran Brigade after a reconfiguration of the southern Sagi Brigade.[20]

At Sufa and Holit the Caracal Battalion, under the command of Lt. Col. Or Ben-Yehuda, claimed to have eliminated nearly 100 Hamas terrorists during the 2023 Hamas invasion of southern Israel. The deputy commander of the battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Avraham Hovelashvili, was killed in the fighting on October 7th while fighting terrorists he encountered en route to joining Caracal troops fighting near Sufa.[21][1]

Training

Female soldiers taking part in Caracal Winter Training

Members of the Caracal Battalion were formerly issued the Israeli-made Tavor assault rifle.[22] but are now issued M4 carbines or M16 rifles.[23]

Battalion members partake in a four-month basic training period that includes physical training and weapons training at the Givati Brigade training base.[4]

Notable recruits

Second Lieutenant Noy, who is serving in the Caracal Battalion, was the first female officer to command a sniper platoon.[24]

Elinor Joseph, who has also served with the Caracal Battalion, is the first Arab woman ever to serve in a combat role in the Israeli Army.[25]

Or Ben Yehuda, commander of Caracal Battalion

Captain Or Ben-Yehuda was awarded a citation while serving in the Caracal Battalion. Ben-Yehuda was in charge of the Caracal Battalion, which was stationed near the Israeli-Egyptian border. Nearly two dozen armed men opened fire on their position in an ambush attack on October 22, 2014. Although wounded in the volley of gunfire, Ben-Yehuda managed to get on the radio and call for backup, administer first aid to her driver and return several magazines worth of gunfire back at her attackers while waiting for reinforcements.[26]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to IDF Caracal battalion.

References

  1. ^ a b "Squad of female IDF combat troops eliminated nearly 100 Hamas terrorists". Jerusalem Post. October 23, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Coed combat". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  3. ^ "Caracal". the Honolulu Zoo. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Integration of women in the IDF". Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. March 8, 2009. Archived from the original on November 14, 2009. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  5. ^ Sheera Claire Frenkel. "After the evacuation". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  6. ^ "Deaths in Israel-Egypt border shootout". Al Jazeera. September 21, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  7. ^ a b c Lappin, Yaakov (September 21, 2012). "IDF soldiers attacked on Egyptian border, kill 3 terrorists". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  8. ^ "Slain Israeli soldier Netanel Yahalomi laid to rest". The Times of Israel. September 23, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  9. ^ a b אתר צה"ל - צבא ההגנה לישראל : חייל צה"ל נהרג בתקרית האש בגבול מצרים; חייל נוסף נ
  10. ^ Bryant, Christa Case. "Attempted attack on Israeli border highlights militant presence in Sinai". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  11. ^ a b "Israeli soldier and militants killed in border clash". BBC. September 21, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  12. ^ "One Israeli soldier, 3 attackers killed in Egypt border attack; major assault foiled". Al Arabiya. September 21, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  13. ^ "IDF chief says threats at border with Egypt will continue even after fence is finished". Associated Press; Times of Israel. The Times of Israel. September 23, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  14. ^ נענע10 - תחקיר הפיגוע: טעות של המחבלים מנעה אסון גדול יותר - חדשות
  15. ^ IDF soldier killed, another wounded in border ... JPost - Defense
  16. ^ Zitun, Yoav (September 21, 2012). "IDF soldier killed in terrorist attack on Egypt border". Ynetnews. Yedioth Ahronot. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
  17. ^ Reshet Bet :: רשת ב - רב"ט נתנאל יהלומי נהרג בתקרית בהר חריף
  18. ^ Zitun, Yoav (September 24, 2012). "Female sniper: I didn't think twice". Ynetnews. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  19. ^ Female warrior who killed a terrorist: an impressive commander Maariv
  20. ^ Ari Gross, Judah (November 28, 2018). "In reshuffle, army forms new Faran Brigade to defend Israel-Egypt border".
  21. ^ Maj. Avi Hovelashvili, 26: Career officer never got to meet his son
  22. ^ Ben, Tzvi (January 8, 2009). "Female Combat Soldiers to Receive Advanced Tavor Rifle". Israelnationalnews.com. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  23. ^ "Co-ed battalions to get new home in Border Defense Force". The Times of Israel.
  24. ^ 1st woman commands sniper platoon. YNet.
  25. ^ Caro Weizman, Rotem (July 26, 2010). "First Female Arab Combat Soldier in IDF is Proud to Serve Israel". IDF News. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2011. The difficult dilemma she felt in serving at a border crossing was not easy for her but she said during moments of difficulty and misgiving she would remember, 'there was a Katyusha [rocket] that fell near my house and also hurt Arabs. If someone would tell me that serving in the IDF means killing Arabs, I remind them that Arabs also kill Arabs.'
  26. ^ "This Female IDF Soldier Fought Off 23 Terrorists in Surprise Attack[usurped]", The Tribunist
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