The Israeli Air Force leadership met with members of its elite Shaldag unit on Sunday to discuss a contentious investigation into the October 7 battles at Kibbutz Be'eri, military sources said.
Major General Tomer Bar, commander of the Israeli Air Force, faced soldiers who expressed deep dissatisfaction with the findings of an inquiry approved by Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the military's chief of staff.
"Your response was swift and powerful, second to none," Maj. Gen. Bar told the unit, according to sources familiar with the meeting. He acknowledged a significant gap between intelligence assessments and actual preparedness: "The Air Force was not trained for a spontaneous regional event of this magnitude."
The investigation, which examined the military's response to Hamas's October attack, has become a point of controversy within Israel's special forces community. Reservists from various elite units have reportedly sent strongly worded messages to senior military leadership, including the chief of staff, defending their actions and seeking to correct what they view as inaccuracies in the official account.
Maj. Gen. Bar praised the unit's performance, noting, "Two and a half days of heroic fighting, 270 fighters in at least six arenas, that's no small matter." He emphasized that the soldiers' decisions to engage were based on "independent judgment and without anyone sending you specifically there."
The Air Force commander also addressed concerns about the investigation's process, stating, "The investigation was presented to the Chief of Staff and will be summarized by the branch commanders. Our job is to deepen both the level above and the tactics - as we investigate as a culture in the Air Force."
In a separate development, Shaldag commanders met with members of the Kibbutz Be'eri emergency response team on Friday, presenting their account of the October 7 events. Sources described this meeting as "good and beneficial," conducted in a respectful manner.
The controversy extends beyond the Shaldag unit. Reserve officers have questioned the portrayal of Shayetet 13, another elite unit, in the investigation, particularly regarding its actions between 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on October 7.
The debate over the investigation's findings has exposed tensions within Israel's military elite. As one veteran officer, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, put it: "This isn't just about one battle or one unit. It's about how we as a military learn from our experiences and prepare for future challenges."
Meanwhile, families of soldiers who fought at Be'eri have called for a broader public inquiry. Rachel Cohen, whose son served with Shaldag during the October attacks, told reporters outside the Knesset last week: "Our children risked everything. They deserve an accounting that goes beyond internal military reviews."
Israel's military leadership now faces the unenviable task of balancing operational secrecy, public accountability, and the morale of its front-line forces.
* Kan 11 News contributed to this article.