One week after arriving in Colombia, the Israeli Defense Forces confirmed Thursday that its "Covenant of Friends" (Brit Re'im) delegation has successfully located and extracted all missing persons at the collapse sites where the team operated. The mission, led by the IDF's Home Front Command, worked in coordination with local Colombian rescue forces throughout the operation.
Disaster Relief
Israeli Rescuers Complete Colombia Mission
IDF's Home Front Command delegation located and extracted all missing persons at disaster sites following devastating earthquake that killed over 300
According to an IDF spokesperson, Israeli forces continue conducting a major effort to assess and survey damaged structures in the affected region. This ongoing work aims to help Colombian authorities develop an updated situational picture of the disaster zone and prioritize recovery efforts.
The Israeli delegation arrived in Colombia a week ago in response to the severe earthquake that struck the country on August 10. The disaster claimed at least 314 lives and injured more than 4,000 people. The rescue mission is commanded by Lt. Col. (res.) Yossi Pinto, head of the Home Front Command's National Search and Rescue Unit. The delegation comprises approximately 80 personnel, including rescue specialists and experts in various fields, drawn from both active-duty and reserve forces.
Military sources indicated that the Israeli team provided Colombia with specialized knowledge and technological tools for managing situational data, establishing response priorities, and supporting decision-making processes during the crisis. The "Covenant of Friends" program represents Israel's international humanitarian assistance framework for disaster response.
Activities of the Israeli delegation in Colombia| צילום: IDF Spokesperson
