IDF forces from the elite Mountain Brigade (810), including specialized engineering units and the 51st Battalion, have conducted targeted operations in the Mount Dov region, focusing on neutralizing Hezbollah's underground tunnel network in enemy territory.
During the last few weeks, the units have successfully located and investigated several underground structures, seizing various materials and evidence found within these subterranean facilities. The operation is part of ongoing defensive measures along Israel's northern border.
Meet IDF Mountain Brigade, Israel's new warriors who are defending the High Ground
Israel's newest military unit is taking the high road - literally. The Mountain Brigade, just launched this month, is taking over one of the country's trickiest spots to defend: the steep, rugged border region where Israel meets Lebanon and Syria.
These aren't your typical soldiers. They're specialists trained to fight in places where the air gets thin and the terrain gets rough. Taking over from the veteran Hermon Brigade, these troops need to be ready for everything from scaling cliffs to dealing with winter storms at the peaks of Mount Hermon, where Israel's only ski resort sits just miles from potential threats.
Recent operations show they're already hard at work - their engineering teams have been busy tackling tunnel threats in the Mount Dov area, while other units keep watch over the winding mountain paths that mark this complex border region.
Colonel Liron Appelman, who's leading this new outfit, has his work cut out for him. His troops need to be ready to defend against threats from both Lebanon and Syria simultaneously - no small task when you're operating in terrain where a wrong step could be as dangerous as enemy fire.
"It's about being ready for anything, anywhere in this mountain range," said Brigadier General Zion Ratzon, who oversees the region. Whether it's patrolling snow-covered peaks or responding to border incidents, these mountain specialists are bringing new capabilities to one of Israel's most challenging frontiers.