The Yonatan Battalion, part of the IDF's Hasmonean Brigade, a unit designed for haredi (ultra-Orthodox) soldiers, has concluded a six-month operational deployment in southern Lebanon, the military announced.
During their deployment, the battalion's soldiers operated under the command of the 300th and 679th Brigades across several sectors along Israel's northern border. According to an IDF spokesperson, the troops carried out a range of combat missions including border defense, locating and destroying weapons caches and terrorist infrastructure, uncovering underground tunnel networks, and identifying rocket launchers that Hezbollah had positioned to target Israeli territory.
The soldiers are now rotating out of the combat zone for a period of rest and recuperation before being reassigned to operational duties in other sectors. During this break, the battalion will conduct large-scale training exercises to maintain combat readiness and operational standards. The downtime will also include dedicated study periods and meetings with rabbis, allowing the soldiers to pursue spiritual growth and strengthen their religious identity, a distinctive feature of the Hasmonean Brigade's approach to integrating haredi men into military service.
At a ceremony marking the end of the battalion's deployment in the sector, Major General Yuval Gez, commander of Division 91, praised the unit's rapid development and combat performance. "Battalion Yonatan, the victory is yours," he said. "You established a battalion at record speed, a process that normally takes many years, from the battalion's formation until it matures for combat. You completed this entire journey in a year and a half, including entering combat and proving operational capability in the field. You know how to combine great faith with uncompromising professionalism. That is your strength, and thanks to it you were deployed over the past six months on the front lines of the struggle against the Hezbollah terror organization, to defend the people of Israel and the land of Israelm with determination, professionalism, and great faith in the justice of the cause."
