About a week before the serious incident on the Egyptian border in which three IDF soldiers were killed, an Israel Hayom correspondent interviewed the commander of the 727th Battalion (Magen Eilat), Lt. Col. Eyal Levy. The battalion under Levy's command is responsible for the Eilat sector and is the first collected battalion to occupy operational employment. The battalion has been in the Eilat area for the past six months and serves as a force multiplier for the brigade's forces.
"We have excellent relations and cooperation with the Jordanians and Egyptians. An excellent security situation with peaceful borders," Lt. Col. Levy said during the interview, saying that a week later she managed to shatter the challenging reality of the southern border.
Lia's sister tearfully eulogized: "Thank you for being your sister" // Photo: Moshe Ben Simhon
The battalion commander of the 727th Battalion also referred to drug smuggling at the border. These smuggling, according to the Egyptians initially, led the policeman to enter Israeli territory and chase the smugglers. "We feel a decrease in the amount of drug smuggling in the past year, there are quite a few attempts and we have caught a lot so far because the forces have made the necessary adjustment. The main targets are criminal – drug smuggling on the western border and weapons smuggling on the east-north border," said Lt. Col. Levy.
"There are quite a few drug smuggling attempts." Lt. Col. Eyal Levy (standing),
Exactly one year ago, in May 2022, an Israel Hayom reporter interviewed four female fighters of the Caracal Battalion, the equivalent of the Cheetah Battalion in which the soldiers killed during the Sabbath served. During the interview, one of the female fighters spoke about the constant alert: "We are on alert all the time, along the border fence, especially in light of the recent attacks. We understand that terrorists can reach deep into bases, things we didn't think could happen. We are constantly sharpening security procedures for our fighters.
"Our job is to prevent terrorists from entering." Caracal Warfare, Photo: IDF Spokesperson
"We are much more alert and on heightened alert. We are preparing our fighters for the event when the enemy will come to us and our job is to prevent them from entering, but dealing with smuggling on the fence continues. I feel that the fighters are ready and feel the sense of meaning of the service and the sharpest and most precise."
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