Job done? Retired reservists’ Phoenix tank unit disbands, for now
Group of former soldiers hammered together 5 armored combat companies for Gaza war since Oct.7; army sees its task as completed, but leader hints that it may yet rise again
A group of soldiers long since released from the army reserves who volunteered to breathe life into worn-out tanks that were then sent into combat, embodying the fighting spirit of Israelis after war erupted, has been disbanded, Channel 12 reported Tuesday.
The Phoenix Battalion came into existence when hundreds of former soldiers, who were no longer part of the army reserves, got together and, with the military’s initially reluctant blessing, repaired dozens of unused tanks, retrained crews, and formed combat units that participated in the ongoing campaign against Palestinian terror group Hamas in Gaza.
The idea was hatched by Dan Levit, a tech worker who serves as a major in the Israel Defense Forces reserves, three days after thousands of Hamas-led terrorists invaded Israel on October 7, butchered 1,200 people, and kidnapped 253 to the Strip.
Speaking to Channel 12 from the field where the unit was wrapping up its activities, Levit recalled that there had been “eyebrows raised” when the project started. Since then, many who doubted the proposal have said they have withdrawn their concerns and have praised the unit and its achievements, he noted.
Cpt. (res.) Danny Luria, another member of the unit, said, “I remember the first day I was on a tank and I said to myself, what am I doing here? I’m not sure I remember how it goes. And we became a very, very, very, serious gang and very professional.”
In the days after the Hamas attack, Levit met with a fellow reserve officer, Erez Sa’adon, at Kibbutz Be’eri, one of the Gaza border communities worst hit by the brutal attack. Grasping that the army needed more tanks, the two men located a list of 95 vehicles that had been decommissioned by the military.
Armed with the list, Levit went from army base to army base and tried to move the aging war machines. The army provided technical personnel to check whether the tanks could be rehabilitated, concluding that it could make 10 of them operational within three days and that more could be made ready later on.
Phoenix was eventually able to set up five tank companies and train 370 crew members. The unit was deployed in border areas but was also involved in several operations inside Gaza itself.
According to the report, the army now sees the unit as having completed its task. The tanks they used will be integrated into an established reservist tank unit. Many of the Phoenix fighters have also volunteered to join other reserve units.
IDF Major (Res.) Yoav Herman told the network, “It is moving, a bit heart-wrenching, but with a sense of satisfaction. The unit is disbanding. I think we did something great here.”
A farewell ceremony was recently held at Kibbutz Nir, close to Gaza.
IDF Chief Armored Officer Brigadier General Ohad Maor told those gathered at the ceremony, “You made history… You really, really, made history.”
IDF Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Erez Sa’adon, who commanded the Phoenix Battalion, said that even after the unit disbands “the most important thing, in my opinion, what will remain, is the spirit.”
Levit also hinted that the unit might yet rise again.
“It’s over. But something new will start,” he said.
“During the war, we saw some things that were missing,” Levit said. “Erez has a new idea that needs to be looked at.”
But he wouldn’t elaborate, promising only that if the idea takes flight, he will let the media know.
