Israel's First Ultra-Orthodox Combat Brigade Completes Major Training Exercise
The Yonatan Battalion, the first combat unit of the all-Haredi Hasmonean Brigade, completes a landmark exercise in the Golan Heights. Marking a new era of ultra-Orthodox integration, these "God-fearing fighters" prove that Torah study and elite military service can march side-by-side.
The Yonatan Battalion, the first regular battalion of the ultra-Orthodox Hasmonean Brigade (613), completed its first battalion-level training exercise in the Golan Heights on Tuesday, marking a historic milestone in the Israeli military's integration of Haredi soldiers into combat units.
The exercise, which concluded the battalion's formation process and prepared it for operational activity, included training in open-terrain warfare, raids and urban combat operations.
Yonatan Battalion is the first regular battalion of the Hasmonean Brigade. As part of their combat training, soldiers completed specialized courses in explosives, communications, drones, anti-tank weapons and sniping, all adapted to accommodate their religious lifestyle while enabling the battalion to function as an organic fighting unit.
"You can be ultra-Orthodox and be a combat soldier. You are making history," said Major General Nadav Lotan, commander of the IDF Ground Forces. "The Hasmonean Brigade continues to establish itself as a fighting ground brigade. This exercise and the establishment of the battalions are another significant step on that path. I am proud of you, fighters and commanders of the brigade. You operate at a high operational standard while preserving your unique identity."
The battalion commander, Lt. Col. Rabbi A., said: "We are in a historic period. We are raising God-fearing fighters, heroes, men of valor and men of truth. Outstanding heroes who walk at the front of the camp. We are creating a process of trust and we are at the beginning of the process. The battalion exercise is part of the battalion's formation, a quality infantry battalion that will be ready for all missions in all areas. With strength and creativity."
The exercise comes amid heightened tensions over the drafting of ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students. The successful completion represents a potential model for integrating religious soldiers into the military while maintaining their religious observance and lifestyle.