A mixed make and female force from the Shachar Battalion, part of Rear Command’s Extraction and Instruction Brigade, has joined the ground forces operating inside the Gaza Strip.
Male and female soldiers of the Shachar Battalion in action in the Gaza Strip. (Source: IDF Spokesperson)
The soldiers of the battalion, led by their commander Lt.-Col. Yarden, joined the brigade combat teams in the 162nd Division for a range of missions befitting their expertise, including searching buildings and locating weapons.
The soldiers joined the fighters of the 460th Brigade combat teams, working within them in the area of the Shati camp – one of the central bastions of the Hamas terror organization in the Gaza Strip.
Shachar Battalion commander Lt.-Col. Yarden described the activity of the battalion as “taking a significant part in the force of the maneuver of the 162nd Division. Our mission is to aid the battalions and the brigades in cold breakthrough and to be a significant extraction force when needed. The soldiers of the battalion will give everything they can until victory. We trained for this and that’s what we’ll do.”
“Extraction forces have designated capabilities to break through walls and ceilings and complex elements”
During the activity of the Commando Brigade’s forces in a hotel in Gaza, a cold breakthrough was achieved by an Extraction Brigade force connected with them. After the work of the extraction forces, an additional underground force was discovered, where weapons and intelligence materials belonging to the Hamas terror organization were found.”
Col. Elad Edri described the work of the Extraction and Instruction Brigade as follows: “The Extraction and Instruction Brigade joined the fighting on the ground as part of the IDF maneuvers in the Gaza Strip. Fighters of the brigade integrated together with the battalions and brigades in the strip. Just in the last few days we’ve worked with the commando, Nachal Brigade, and other forces in order to harm enemy infrastructures and eliminate terrorists and find weapons.”
“The brigade forces have designated abilities to break through walls and ceilings and complex elements. Also, to extract soldiers if a structure collapses on our forces. We’ve waited for this day a long time, we’ve trained for it and we’re prepared with the best equipment. We have the ability to be in the field for many weeks and we are prepared for it. We will continue to accompany the IDF maneuver as much as necessary.”
From the moment of IDF entry into the Strip, the Extraction and Instruction Brigade has led the effort to extract and evacuate people from structures and ruins based on operational requirements.
