During the first significant snowfall of the season blanketing Israel's northern frontier, soldiers from the elite "Mountains" Brigade (Kfir Brigade) ventured out on routine patrols this morning, turning a routine security sweep into a picturesque, if perilous, winter operation against the backdrop of Storm Byron's unrelenting fury.
Viral footage released by the IDF Spokesman's Unit captures the troops trudging through fresh powder at elevations above 2,000 meters, their olive-green uniforms dusted white as they navigate fog-shrouded trails and icy outposts.
"The snow started falling around dawn - it's beautiful, but it makes every step a challenge," said Cpl. Kfir Sabag, a veteran Hermonite stationed at 2,100 meters where temperatures hovered around 2°C. "We're ready for anything: snow, threats, or both. This is the most stunning place to serve, guarding the front line."
The unseasonal dump, the earliest heavy snow since November 2024, coincides with Byron's peak onslaught, a Mediterranean cyclone that has already shattered rainfall records: Zikhron Yaakov logged 77mm overnight, Tel Aviv 66mm, and flash floods are swelling southern streams like the Besor and Tzin.
In Tel Aviv, a fallen tree crushed a parked car; in Zikhron Yaakov, a minibus hydroplaned into a flooded road, but no serious injuries were reported.
