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Unit 669

Soldiers from the IDF's Unit 669 rappelling from a helicopter. (Amit Agronov)
April 17, 2026, 11:40 am
After US rescues airmen in Iran, commando opens up about IDF’s own daring extractions
Reservist combat medic in vaunted chopper rescue unit 669, who chronicled his service in two books, describes rapid-response missions, battlefield chaos and mental toll behind life-saving operations
By Stav Levaton
The site of an IDF helicopter crash in the southern Gaza Strip, September 11, 2024. (Courtesy)
September 20, 2024, 3:09 pm
IAF chopper crash probe finds bad visibility conditions led to deadly accident
‘Complex’ helipad in south Gaza combat zone, paired with darkness and heavy dust, led crew to lose ‘spatial orientation’; 2 soldiers were killed, seven wounded in Sep. 11 incident
By Emanuel Fabian
Female soldiers during training, in an undated photography published by the military on June 7, 2022. (Israel Defense Forces)
December 6, 2023, 9:03 pm
IDF sees surge in female conscripts seeking combat roles since start of war with Hamas
Massive rise in women asking to join border defense, artillery, border police, search and rescue and other units; in first, two women pass selection for elite 669 rescue unit
By Emanuel Fabian
In this handout photo, security forces and rescue personnel are seen near a closed military zone by the Dead Sea where a foreign national was declared dead after being found unconscious, August 27, 2023. (Israel Police)
August 27, 2023, 1:35 pm
Foreign national found dead in minefield near Dead Sea, 5 other people rescued
Man dies from apparent heatstroke while traversing closed military zone in seeming effort to enter Israel illegally from Jordan
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: Wounded people arrive at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, August 24, 2023. (Flash90)
August 24, 2023, 10:50 am
‘Suddenly rocks fell on us’: 8-year-old boy killed, 8 hurt in rockslide near Dead Sea
Two girls and two adults in moderate condition after earthfall; IAF’s Unit 669 dispatched to scene at Nahal David stream at Ein Gedi; police temporarily close off roads in area
By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff
Female soldiers operate a tank in the Negev desert in an undated photograph. (Israel Defense Forces)
June 28, 2023, 4:19 pm
High Court orders IDF to explain why not all elite units are open to female soldiers
Justices give defense establishment until September to respond to questions about limits on women in combat roles, despite ongoing pilot programs
By ToI Staff
IDF rescuers work to pull a pair of Palestinian construction workers from under collapsed rubble in the Neve Daniel settlement on May 31, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces)
May 31, 2023, 11:20 pm
IDF rescuers pull 2 Palestinians from collapsed settlement construction site
Workers evacuated to Jerusalem hospital in serious and moderate condition after two-hour operation
By ToI Staff
Members of the Israel Police Volunteer Rescue Unit work to rescue a 60-year-old man who fell while hiking near Nahal Sa'ar on May 5, 2023. (Israel Police Volunteer Rescue Unit)
May 5, 2023, 9:52 pm
60-year-old killed in fall while hiking in Golan Heights
Complex rescue operation takes five hours and includes deployment of rope system; victim pronounced dead on scene
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: Female soldiers of the Bardelas Battalion during training, July 13, 2016. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
October 29, 2022, 9:23 pm
IDF begins to draft female recruits to elite units previously closed off to women
Starting in November, women can for the first time try out for vaunted helicopter search and rescue unit as well as combat engineering
By Emanuel Fabian
Soldiers from the Israeli Air Force's elite Unit 669 take part in an exercise in an undated photograph. (Israel Defense Forces)
October 13, 2022, 3:49 pm
Elite Israeli Air Force unit rescues American who had heart attack on cruise ship
Evacuation made following requests by American officials; woman brought to Haifa hospital
By Emanuel Fabian
Illustrative: A military helicopter holding a 669 Search & Rescue crewman and a stranded hiker over a flooded riverbed in southern Israel, November 9, 2018. (Courtesy: IDF)
June 18, 2022, 4:11 pm
Elderly man drowns in Jordan River; woman rescued after falling into Banias Stream
Three others hurt on Haifa, Ashkelon and Tel Aviv beaches, latest in series of water-related accidents; on Friday, a 15-year-old died in hospital after drowning in the Jordan River
By ToI Staff
Soldiers of the Caracal Battalion put camouflage makeup on in preparation for a 16-kilometer overnight journey to complete their training course, in Azoz village, southern Israel, near the border with Egypt, September 3, 2014. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
June 8, 2022, 1:01 pm
Deputy minister knocks plan to let more women into combat units
Matan Kahana, a reserve fighter pilot, says he fears IDF will lower standards to bring female recruits into elite helicopter-borne search-and-rescue outfit
By Judah Ari Gross
Illustrative: Female soldiers during training, in an undated photography published by the military on June 7, 2022. (Israel Defense Forces)
June 7, 2022, 6:01 pm
IDF expands combat roles for women, but says most are not cut out for elite units
Military to allow female recruits to try out for vaunted helicopter search and rescue and combat engineering units, accepting recommendations of panel after petition by recruits
By Emanuel Fabian
Illustrative photo: Soldiers in the mixed gender Cheetah Battalion participate in a squad exercise in southern Israel on November 16, 2015. (IDF Spokesperson's Unit/Flickr)
June 2, 2022, 11:31 pm
Rabbis urge IDF chief to stop women’s integration into combat units
Statement signed by diverse group of national religious leaders, days after IDF says women will be able to serve in elite search and rescue unit, claims such moves will divide army
By ToI Staff
Soldiers from the Israeli Air Force's elite Unit 669 take part in an exercise in an undated photograph. (Israel Defense Forces)
May 27, 2022, 10:25 am
Elite IDF search and rescue unit to be open to women for first time
Israeli Air Force to let female recruits try out serving in Unit 669, amid High Court appeal seeking full gender integration across the military
By Emanuel Fabian
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