Historic first: Female Israeli combat soldiers conduct operations in Lebanon

For the first time in Israel’s military history, female combat soldiers have entered Lebanon as part of a strategic mission.

The operation was approved several weeks ago by Major-General Ori Gordin, the commander of the IDF Northern Command, marking a significant milestone for women in the Israeli Defense Forces, Caliber.Az reports citing Israeli media.

Since the beginning of the conflict, the combat intelligence team, composed entirely of female soldiers, had been stationed along the Syrian border and in the Mount Dov area. Their primary objectives included gathering intelligence, identifying terrorist operatives, compiling target lists, and directing both ground and aerial strikes to eliminate threats and dismantle terrorist infrastructure.

Corporal Tehila, 21, from the "Eagle" Battalion, shared her experience from several operations, which involved identifying individuals linked to terrorist activities. She described the challenging conditions: We went in on foot. How much weight did we carry? Too much,” she said with a laugh. “About 40 per cent of our body weight. We were preparing for a prolonged ambush.”

Corporal Shani, 20, explained the mission's logistical details: “We walked about 1.5 kilometres into Lebanon, set up a position in the field, maintained camouflage, and began collecting intelligence using observation tools. Operationally, we entered areas that had not been accessed by Israeli forces since the Second Lebanon War.”

The mission represents a landmark moment in the IDF’s evolving approach to gender equality in combat roles, as female soldiers play an increasingly pivotal role in high-stakes operations alongside their male counterparts.

By Vafa Guliyeva