Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces, alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym Tzahal (צה״ל), is the national military of the State of Israel. It consists of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security apparatus. The IDF is headed by the Chief of the General Staff, who is subordinate to the Israeli Defense Minister.
Some of the key events about Israel Defense Forces
- 1948Successfully defended Israel during the War of Independence
- 1948Forcibly expelled hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes during the Arab-Israeli War.
- 1956Secured the Sinai Peninsula and Suez Canal during the Suez Crisis
- 1956Killed dozens of civilians in the village of Kafr Qasim for violating a curfew they were unaware of.
- 1967Achieved a decisive victory in the Six-Day War, significantly expanding Israel's territory
- 1967Attacked the USS Liberty, a US Navy ship, killing 34 crew members in a controversial incident.
- 1976Conducted a successful hostage rescue operation at Entebbe Airport in Uganda
- 1979Assisted in the implementation of the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty
- 1982Allowed Lebanese Christian militias to massacre hundreds of Palestinian civilians in Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.
- 1988Used excessive force against Palestinian protesters during the First Intifada, resulting in numerous civilian casualties.
- 1991Deployed the Iron Dome missile defense system to protect civilians from rocket attacks
- 2002Conducted a military operation in Jenin refugee camp, causing widespread destruction and civilian deaths.
- 2005Completed the unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip
- 2006Launched airstrikes on Lebanon, resulting in significant civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.
- 2008Initiated Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, leading to over 1,000 Palestinian civilian deaths.
- 2010Provided humanitarian aid and rescue efforts following the Haiti earthquake
- 2013Established a field hospital on the Syrian border to treat wounded civilians
- 2014Conducted Operation Protective Edge in Gaza, resulting in over 2,000 Palestinian deaths, mostly civilians.
- 2018Used live ammunition against protesters at the Gaza border, killing dozens and injuring thousands.
- 2020Facilitated COVID-19 vaccine distribution and assisted in pandemic response efforts
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.