An all-female combat unit made up of just 13 Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers attacked and killed nearly 100 Hamas gunmen as they repelled a terrorist attack on a military base and helped liberate a kibbutz, it has emerged.
Lt. Col. Or Ben Yehuda and her 12 female soldiers from the Caracal Battalion led the front-line fight in armored personnel carriers after running to a military post on the Egyptian border that came under attack during the Hamas attack.
As rockets rained down around her, she learned that the terrorists had breached Israel’s border fence with the Gaza Strip on October 7 and were heading toward the Jewish settlements of Shlomit and Bnei Netzer.
In a final message from the Sufa military base, which was under attack by dozens of Hamas fighters, a colleague killed just minutes later, Lt. Col. Ben Yehuda, warned: “There are several terrorists here. They are heavily armed.”
Then, in a pre-battle speech, Lt. Col. Ben Yehuda told the 12-man unit that they were strong and would not be defeated.
She said: “We will eliminate terrorists.” [An] Infiltration into Israel is occurring and spreading. Stay alert. We could cross paths. “We are a strong team.”
Lt. Col. Or Ben Yehuda (pictured) and her 12 female soldiers took on and killed nearly 100 Hamas gunmen as they fought off the terrorists
Lieutenant Colonel Ben-Yehuda ties up a Hamas fighter and blindfolds him
Lt. Col. Ben-Yehuda of the Caracal Infantry Combat Battalion Unit
When the unit reached the military base, they found that Hamas had overrun the post and taken more than 50 Israeli military personnel hostage.
About seven armed men had taken up positions in the dining room armed with anti-tank missiles.
As the officer and her 12-member team approached the base from all sides, a group of 50 heavily armed terrorists from the area rushed towards them.
But the unit held its ground, shooting some and forcing others to disperse.
In a harrowing moment, Lt. Col. Ben Yehuda came face to face with a male terrorist, whom she shot dead at point-blank range.
An officer from another unit arrived at the military base and suggested an attack on the building where the terrorists were holed up.
But Lt. Col. Ben Yehuda insisted she would not risk the hostages’ lives and directed her offensive fire at the terrorists who had taken up positions around the post.
Over the next four hours, the 12-man unit engaged in a fierce firefight with Hamas, which sent wave after wave of armed men against them.
Although some of the soldiers were wounded, the all-female unit continued to fight.
The Caracal Battalion unit was later reinforced by soldiers from a Marine special forces unit and together they continued the attack on Hamas for the next 14 hours until the terrorists were either dead or had fled.
Lt. Col. Ben Yehuda praised the “significant contribution” the female soldiers made in winning the battle, saving the lives of the wounded and carrying out daring helicopter evacuations under fire.
She also praised the courage of an all-female tank crew under her command who led the attack on Hamas militants who had looted the nearby Holit kibbutz, killing more than a dozen civilians.
Lt. Col. Ben Yehuda praised the “significant contribution” the female soldiers made in winning the battle, saving the lives of the wounded and carrying out daring helicopter evacuations under fire
Lt. Col. Ben Yehuda added: “There is no longer any doubt about female combat soldiers who have triumphed in every encounter with terrorists.”
In total, Caracal Battalion units are believed to have killed around 100 terrorists – a fact that should dispel any doubts about the effectiveness of female soldiers, she said.
Lt. Col. Ben Yehuda said: “The training and the performance.” [of the female combat units] on the battlefield have dispelled all doubts [about their ability].
“They fought bravely, saved lives and emerged as heroes.”
She added: “There is no longer any doubt about female combat soldiers who have triumphed in every encounter with terrorists.”
“We are currently responsible for 11 cities and are preparing for possible ground maneuvers to ensure the security of the southern border area with the Gaza Strip and the Egyptian border.”
The all-female tank crew was also praised for leading the attack on Hamas terrorists who had overrun the Holit kibbutz.
An official, who cannot be named for security reasons, told the Yetznews website: “The female tank crew members were stationed near our team and they were great.” They fought like lionesses. They are heroes.
“I could hear them on the radio, including their commander Or Ben Yehuda, who was operating at the highest level.
“They broke through the fence and attacked the terrorists, who were there in dozens.
“They deserve to be decorated. They worked like a well-oiled machine, at a professional level expected of a tank crew.”
The IDF has approximately 50,000 female combat troops out of a total of 200,000 active duty soldiers. Women are required to serve in the military alongside men and are recalled to serve in the Army Reserves in times of crisis.
The Caracal Battalion consists of 70 percent female soldiers and has all-female units. The seat is in southern Israel.
In 2014, Lt. Col. Ben Yehuda was injured in a terrorist attack on the border with Egypt, but managed to return fire and kill a militant in combat.