Lieutenant-Colonel Assad Subah
Photo: Hanan Greenberg
Druze Battalion head: Hizbullah deterred
Ahead of intensive training at Golan Heights, Herev Battalion commander sums up six months of patrolling northern border, says, 'We believe the other side knows it is facing a strong, trained and skilled army'
"The quiet at the northern border, and in Haifa and Tel Aviv, stems from the IDF's deterrence towards Hizbullah," said Lieutenant-Colonel Assad Subah, commander of the Druze Herev Battalion
"We believe that the other side knows that it is facing a strong, trained and skilled army – and it's no coincidence they are not rushing to carry out any irregular activities," added Subah, who spoke to Ynet after spending six months stationed with his troops at the northern points of Reches Ramim and Har Dov.
The soldiers of the Druze battalion are well acquainted with the northern border, where their operational activity has been focused over the years. "This gives us a significant advantage," Subah said.
"Our knowledge of the area, its features and the threats – have given us important expertise. We also always have in mind the scenario that something could happen at any moment and we must be ready for it," he added.
Marching through Druze villages (Photo: Hanan Greenberg)
Last Thursday the Herev fighters embarked on a journey quite different from what they are used to. They marched through Druze villages in northern Israel carrying flags and singing, in an attempt to connect with the residents.
The soldiers were greeted warmly and showered with food and other gifts. "We all come from these villages, this is the source of our strength, and we are giving back our love to the families," Subah said.
Most of the Druze IDF recruits end up in Herev, with a recent 10% rise in the number of fighters in the battalion recorded. Just before the start of intensive training in the Golan Heights, Subah summed up his battalion's recent work at the northern border.
"We are in every spot on the border, to the last centimeter, always in action. There is no static situation, day and night, and this is also reflected to the other side," he said.
Regarding threats from Hizbullah to avenge the assassination of one of the organization's officials Imad Mughniyeh's, Subah said, "The soldiers are very skilled, steadfast, and ready for all scenarios. We are always prepared for a surprise, for an incident that we have prior information of – this is the only way we can give a good response."
Subah added that one of the main techniques used to keep the troops on their toes was to stage random incidents. "We are always training them for unpredictable incidents, even at the level of staging terrorist cells trying to carry out attacks in unconventional ways and at unconventional times. This keeps them in a situation very similar to reality," he said.
