IDF human intelligence unit wins commendation for its covert activities
Official citation says Unit 504, which employs agents beyond Israel’s borders, is bolstering ‘IDF’s superiority, and the security of the State of Israel’
Judah Ari Gross is The Times of Israel's religions and Diaspora affairs correspondent.
The head of Military Intelligence this week awarded Unit 504, which employs agents beyond Israel’s borders, with an official commendation for its covert actions in 2016 and 2017, the army said on Saturday night.
The military would not divulge the nature of the human intelligence unit’s actions in 2016 and 2017 that led to the “citation of praise.”
The award said the actions “contributed to the IDF’s superiority and the security of the State of Israel.”
There are four levels of military citations. Unit 504 received the second highest, one presented by a major general, in this case the head of Military Intelligence Maj. Gen. Herzl Halevi.
“We award a citation of praise when we want to praise, it’s as simple as that. We recognize activity that is beyond the norm, that overcomes obstacles, problems, and the unexpected,” Halevi said at the ceremony this week.
The soldiers and officers who make up Unit 504 operate agents in foreign countries and within the West Bank and Gaza Strip, who provide intelligence that is analyzed within the Military Intelligence Directorate.
“This citation of praise is an expression of the appreciation toward everyone involved in the work, the members of the unit and our many partners in Military Intelligence, the IDF, and the intelligence community, who assist, support, and work with us, shoulder to shoulder,” said the unit’s commander, who could only be identified by his rank and first Hebrew letter of his name, Col. “Taf.”
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