First regiment out: We left with beard like Nasrallah

(VIDEO) Soldiers of Druze battalion Herev first to return to Israel upon declaration of ceasefire. They fought in Lebanon for 29 consecutive days, advanced deep into territory even before greater military intervention was officially confirmed. 'We heard about Katyusha rockets, understood we were protecting homeland. I'm proud we returned with no casualties,' says regiment commander
Hanan Greenberg

VIDEO - About an hour and a half before the ceasefire between Israel and Hizbullah began Monday, the soldiers of the Herev Battalion completed a 10-kilometer (6.21-mile) march from Lebanon to Israel. After 29 consecutive days of military activity in Lebanon, the fighters of the Druze regiment were the first out of Lebanon leading the retreat of the Israel Defense Forces from the area.

"Suddenly, the discipline problems of the regiment disappeared, no problems of personal affairs, no complaints, the soldiers were focused on their mission—locating terrorists, launchers and weapons. I am sure that after this month, they will leave more even-tempered," the regiment commander, Lieutenant Colonel Vegdi, told Ynet.

Herev Battalion soldiers leave Lebanon (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Office)

During their final days in Lebanon, as the ceasefire was approaching, the battalion penetrated deeper into the territory. Last Wednesday, commander Vegdi was told to move forward with his forces by foot from the Itron village to the Berashit area and Beit Yahun, 12 kilometers from the border.

"The instruction was given to us as part of the expansion of the military action that was approved by the cabinet. We began moving in the dark, a long and difficult walk. We arrived at four-thirty in the morning and I felt that something was wrong. Other forces that were meant to be in the area were not there," he recounted.

Vegdi called the military division to inquire on the matter.

"They told me the military expansion was temporarily put on hold in an attempt to reach a diplomatic settlement. We stayed in the same place until the weekend when we got the green light."

'Soldiers understood they were protecting homeland'

From Wednesday until the ceasefire, the regiment hit nine terrorists and a chain that launched anti-tank missiles in the Bint Jbel area.

"We saw terrorists that were tired and worn out. It appeared they ran out of food and water. They looked like they didn't know what was happening around them."

Soldiers return home (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Office)

The regiment's action in Berashit was their last in Southern Lebanon before returning to Israel for a 48-hour break after which they will probably go back to Lebanon.

In the last days, the soldiers joked that they grew beards like Nasrallah during their long stay in the territory. The commander expressed appreciation to his soldiers.

"When we went back to Israel, I told my soldiers how proud I am of them. We accomplished a lot, and aside from one who was lightly wounded in the leg, we returned without casualties."

The soldiers used their officers' cell phones to keep in touch with their families. This was how they found about the Katyusha rocket attacks, some of which fell close to their homes.

"When we were in the territory, we heard about the rocket attacks… It only strengthened (the soldiers) because they understood they were protecting the homeland," said Vegdi.