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From left: Avi Dahan, Oren Abman and Ran Kahane in 2000

Military memories: How the IDF withdrew from the symbol of the Lebanon security zone

15 years on, IDF troops recall using six tons of explosives to decimate their outpost. 'We didn't want to see Hezbollah waving anything with an IDF logo.'

It was the last night of the Beaufort officers: Exactly 15 years after the IDF's withdrawal from South Lebanon, Ynet met the last three officers of the Alei Taher mountain range in what was the Israeli security zone, for a unique conversation.

 

 

This is the mountain range on whose peak sits the Crusader fortress of Beaufort, which can be seen from Israel's border. The fortress was a symbol of the agony surrounding the IDF presence in South Lebanon throughout long and bloody decades.

 

Leaving Lebanon    (צילום: עידו בקר, אסף מגל, עריכה: נגה מימראן, הדמיית תלת מימד: ענבל גרוסמן ורותם חרמוני)

Leaving Lebanon

סגורסגור

שליחה לחבר

 הקלידו את הקוד המוצג
תמונה חדשה

שלח
הסרטון נשלח לחברך

סגורסגור

הטמעת הסרטון באתר שלך

 קוד להטמעה:

 

Golani fighters captured Beaufort 32 years ago, and lost six men in the battle with PLO terrorists. The book "If There's a Heaven" and the film "Beaufort", based on the book, seared the isolated fortress as symbol onto people's consciousness. For the officers it was a daily war scene, and in May 2000, it was an especially bizarre situation.

 

We gathered the brigade commander of the Beaufort ridge at the time, today Brigadier-General Oren Abman, and two company commanders, today brigade commanders who served under him, Ran Kahane and Avi Dahan, for a conversation about the days of retreat.

 

From left: Ran Kahane, Oren Abman and Avi Dahan today (Photo: Avihu Shapira) (Photo: Avihu Shapira)
From left: Ran Kahane, Oren Abman and Avi Dahan today (Photo: Avihu Shapira)

 

For all three, who have since taken separate yet parallel army paths, they fought in operations in Gaza, the second Lebanon War, the second Intifada in Judea and Samaria, this was coming full circle.

 

Ariel Sharon, right, and Menachem Begin, center, at Beaufort after its capture.  (Photo: IDF Spokesman)
Ariel Sharon, right, and Menachem Begin, center, at Beaufort after its capture.

 

Ynet's Ron Ben-Yishai with Oren Abman at Beaufort.
Ynet's Ron Ben-Yishai with Oren Abman at Beaufort.

 

Ran Kahane at the Pumpkin outpost, next to Beaufort.
Ran Kahane at the Pumpkin outpost, next to Beaufort.

 

 

Avi Dahan laying the explosives to destroy the IDF base at Beaufort
Avi Dahan laying the explosives to destroy the IDF base at Beaufort

 

Oren Abman with Beaufort in the background, a last look before leaving.
Oren Abman with Beaufort in the background, a last look before leaving.

The heavily armored APCs waiting to take the troops back into Israel after the pullout.
The heavily armored APCs waiting to take the troops back into Israel after the pullout.


The last soldiers at Beaufort, Abman is fourth from right.
The last soldiers at Beaufort, Abman is fourth from right.

Oren Abman, right, gives the order to withdraw
Oren Abman, right, gives the order to withdraw

The soldiers leave Lebanon, Israeli flag on display. Avi Dahan is on the left.
The soldiers leave Lebanon, Israeli flag on display. Avi Dahan is on the left.

 

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.29.15, 00:21
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