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Yahalom Unit
About the Unit
Yahalom (acronym for Special Operations Engineering Unit) is an elite voluntary unit, unique within the IDF. It is part of the Combat Engineering Corps under the Ground Forces Command and operates under the direct command of the General Staff. Yahalom is trained as a commando unit and serves as the IDF’s highest authority in its areas of expertise, which include locating and destroying terror tunnels, explosives and demolition expertise, planting and neutralizing charges, disposal of enemy and IDF munitions (including non-conventional weapons), crossing minefields and water obstacles, reconnaissance and engineering intelligence gathering, national-level munitions research, and breaching capabilities in hostage scenarios.
Yahalom was established in late 1995 through the merger of two units – the Bomb Disposal Unit and the Yael Reconnaissance Unit. The Bomb Disposal Unit, whose roots date back to Israel’s founding in 1948, was formally established in 1965, and the Yael Reconnaissance Unit was founded in 1982. Since its inception, Yahalom has provided the IDF with advanced combat and technological capabilities in support of the nation’s most critical missions. Over the years, Yahalom has remained at the forefront of the IDF’s operational strength, ready to act swiftly anytime, anywhere. Its operators are consistently deployed at the front lines – playing a vital role in nearly every military operation, both within Israel and beyond its borders. The unit develops and operates cutting-edge technologies, sets new standards for combat operations on the battlefield, and serves as a center of excellence in innovation and technology. Yahalom is a multidimensional force that operates both above and below ground, always prepared to deploy wherever needed to defend the State of Israel – with precision, ingenuity, and unwavering dedication.
