With the completion of the mission in Jabaliya and the departure of the 7th Brigade from the Strip, we sat down to talk with the MP of those who stood at the head and paved the way. We heard from him about the operational achievements, the collaborations that crossed arms, the teams that turn the tank into a home, and we got a glimpse of what intense combat looks like - through to the tower

I meet Major Sagi, Company commander 'Kingdoms of Hermon' in the 77th Battalion, last Wednesday - right after the end of their mission in Gaza, when the convoy of tanks under his command crosses the border and returns to the territory of the country. "It's been so long since I've been out without West," he opens our conversation and laughs.

Sagi and his fighters returned from the heart of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip, after about 3 weeks in which they operated in the area against terrorist targets. The raids in the crowded and trapped city were led by the 7th SDF, which consists of armored, engineering and paratrooper and Givati ​​infantry battalions.

"We started the activity one night," he recalls, "we advanced to the terror nest in the Jabaliya refugee camp, and while we were doing it we already started to identify terrorists in the orchards and opened fire. When we arrived, we noticed that the neighborhood was prepared to fight against us - the terrorists were armed with RPG missiles and the houses Trapped".

In the Mufti joint venture, they acted directly. "We really refined the doctrine of combat," notes Major Sagi, "We use all the means of the IDF in one attack: you direct a sniper rifle from the tank, in the process - you are in conversation with the KM" N, who flies drones to flank the terrorists, and at the same time talks to the 'Zik', and sends a tank platoon and an infantry platoon to locate more snipers."

And this description is really not a one-off, as he immediately hastens to demonstrate: "This morning we also eliminated a terrorist like that. He was running between houses, the infantrymen surrounded him, and we also with the tanks, we used the observation capabilities of the 'Zik', fired a shell at him, He was eliminated - and the forces were not harmed."

This is just another 'small' example of their activity. They also managed to raid and neutralize rocket launch complexes, destroy underground shafts together with the engineering fighters, and eliminate dozens of terrorists who threatened to harm the forces.

The fighting in Jabalia, led by the brigade, comes after they also broke through in the cities of Rimal and Khan Yunis. "It's a very great honor every time - we move forward in a tank, with a D9 by our side, and when I look back - I see an entire division, passing through the same axis we opened," describes Major Sagi.

It's been eight months in a row that they don't take their foot off the gas. They were under wraps on October 7th, suffered painful losses in battles, and despite the difficulty - raised their heads and continued to look forward and fight hard, as only armorers know.

"In our few moments outside, we take care of the tools, breathe air, eat, sleep well - and go back in," explains the Company commander, "in the end, the tank crew becomes a family. We talk about everything, get angry together and be happy together. There are four fighters in the tank, each of whom is an expert in his field, not only professionally, but also interpersonally - one becomes a 'cook', one a 'funny', and one a 'storyteller'."

"We see the results in the field, and also when you hear from a Apache helicopter pilot say 'I'm here in your service.' You can really feel the strength of the IDF," concludes the Company commander, "and I am most proud in the world to command my fighters, who always look towards the next mission, and stay focused. They are lions and do not deserve them."