Bahad 4 (Hebrew: בה"ד 4), commonly known as Batar Zikim (בט"ר זיקים, lit. Zikim Training Base) is a training base (Bahad) belonging to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
End of IDF basic training exercise in Bahad 4, 1969
Zikim is located 8 km south of Ashkelon. It was named after the nearby kibbutz Zikim.
The majority of new recruits in Zikim pass the Rifleman 02 recruit training (tironut) which has all but replaced the older 00 level that was usually reserved for non-combat female recruits.
Bahad 4 was founded in 1949 as the main IDF recruit training base, for all types of recruits (combat and non-combat). It was originally located in Tzrifin, but after the Six-Day War it was moved to the Beit El base in the newly captured West Bank. After the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip signed in 1995, the base was moved to Zikim.
Conflict with Hamas-run Gaza since 2007edit
Bahad 4 is one of the few Israeli military bases under threat of short-range Qassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, and has endured numerous barrages. On September 11, 2007, a Qassam rocket hit an empty tent, causing injuries to soldiers in neighboring tents. Four soldiers were seriously wounded and a further 63 were treated for moderate to light wounds and shock.[1] One soldier, Avi Dorfman, was critically brain-injured, and his miraculous recovery was chronicled in the Israeli news.[2] Following the incident, pressure was put on the IDF by parents to stop training recruits at the base.[3]
On November 19, 2008, Zikim was evacuated as part of a plan presented by Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Harel to remove general recruit training bases.[4] Following Operation Cast Lead, Qassam attacks decreased significantly, and returning recruits to Zikim became a viable option. In late 2009, after a severe shortage of space in the other basic training bases, several companies were placed at Zikim, and more were expected to be recreated in 2009–2010.[3]
On 7 October 2023, at the start of the Israel–Hamas war, the base was attacked by Hamas fighters in the Battle of Zikim.[5] Six officers and one recruit were killed in the fighting before the militants withdrew.[6]
Structure and boardedit
The base comprises nine companies for any kinds of troops. There is a special company for commander training (קורס מפקדים) and officers' course. Female commanders are dominant on the base.
Each company is represented by a letter in the Hebrew alphabet (from alef (1) to yud (10), while skipping zayin (7)), as well as a word starting with the corresponding letter. Each company also has an official motto. The company names are as follows:
1. Alef (א) - Eitan
2. Bet (ב) - Bardelas (Cheetah)
3. Gimel (ג) - Golan
4. Daled (ד) - Dores (Predator)
5. Hey (ה) - Harel
6. Vav (ו) - Vulcan
7. Het (ח) - Horev
8. Tet (ט) - Tornado
9. Yud (י) - Yuval
Referencesedit
^Greenberg, Hanan; Hadad, Shmulik; Waked, Ali (2007-09-11). "67 wounded in Qassam attack". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
^Markus, Alexandra (January 28, 2016). "Meet a True Israeli Hero: Avi Dorfman Survives Hamas Attack and Near Permanent Brain Damage (VIDEO)". Algeimeiner. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
^ abKosti, Nir; Winter, Yarden (September 25, 2009). "The Comeback of Zikim". Bamahane (in Hebrew) (3006): 8.
^Waked, Ali (November 19, 2008). "Palestinian Terror Group Gloats over Zikim Closure". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
^"What happened in Israel? A breakdown of how Hamas attack unfolded". Al Jazeera. from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
^"קומץ מפקדים הצילו בגופם 90 טירונים. סיפורו של הקרב ההירואי בזיקים". הארץ (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-11-14.
bahad, hebrew, בה, commonly, known, batar, zikim, בט, זיקים, zikim, training, base, training, base, bahad, belonging, israel, defense, forces, basic, training, exercise, 1969, zikim, located, south, ashkelon, named, after, nearby, kibbutz, zikim, majority, rec. Bahad 4 Hebrew בה ד 4 commonly known as Batar Zikim בט ר זיקים lit Zikim Training Base is a training base Bahad belonging to the Israel Defense Forces IDF End of IDF basic training exercise in Bahad 4 1969 Zikim is located 8 km south of Ashkelon It was named after the nearby kibbutz Zikim The majority of new recruits in Zikim pass the Rifleman 02 recruit training tironut which has all but replaced the older 00 level that was usually reserved for non combat female recruits Contents 1 History 1 1 Conflict with Hamas run Gaza since 2007 2 Structure and board 3 ReferencesHistory editBahad 4 was founded in 1949 as the main IDF recruit training base for all types of recruits combat and non combat It was originally located in Tzrifin but after the Six Day War it was moved to the Beit El base in the newly captured West Bank After the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip signed in 1995 the base was moved to Zikim Conflict with Hamas run Gaza since 2007 edit Bahad 4 is one of the few Israeli military bases under threat of short range Qassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip and has endured numerous barrages On September 11 2007 a Qassam rocket hit an empty tent causing injuries to soldiers in neighboring tents Four soldiers were seriously wounded and a further 63 were treated for moderate to light wounds and shock 1 One soldier Avi Dorfman was critically brain injured and his miraculous recovery was chronicled in the Israeli news 2 Following the incident pressure was put on the IDF by parents to stop training recruits at the base 3 On November 19 2008 Zikim was evacuated as part of a plan presented by Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Harel to remove general recruit training bases 4 Following Operation Cast Lead Qassam attacks decreased significantly and returning recruits to Zikim became a viable option In late 2009 after a severe shortage of space in the other basic training bases several companies were placed at Zikim and more were expected to be recreated in 2009 2010 3 On 7 October 2023 at the start of the Israel Hamas war the base was attacked by Hamas fighters in the Battle of Zikim 5 Six officers and one recruit were killed in the fighting before the militants withdrew 6 Structure and board editThe base comprises nine companies for any kinds of troops There is a special company for commander training קורס מפקדים and officers course Female commanders are dominant on the base Each company is represented by a letter in the Hebrew alphabet from alef 1 to yud 10 while skipping zayin 7 as well as a word starting with the corresponding letter Each company also has an official motto The company names are as follows 1 Alef א Eitan 2 Bet ב Bardelas Cheetah 3 Gimel ג Golan 4 Daled ד Dores Predator 5 Hey ה Harel 6 Vav ו Vulcan 7 Het ח Horev 8 Tet ט Tornado 9 Yud י YuvalReferences edit Greenberg Hanan Hadad Shmulik Waked Ali 2007 09 11 67 wounded in Qassam attack Ynetnews Retrieved 2007 09 17 Markus Alexandra January 28 2016 Meet a True Israeli Hero Avi Dorfman Survives Hamas Attack and Near Permanent Brain Damage VIDEO Algeimeiner Retrieved 2016 06 01 a b Kosti Nir Winter Yarden September 25 2009 The Comeback of Zikim Bamahane in Hebrew 3006 8 Waked Ali November 19 2008 Palestinian Terror Group Gloats over Zikim Closure Ynetnews Retrieved 2008 12 13 What happened in Israel A breakdown of how Hamas attack unfolded Al Jazeera Archived from the original on 10 October 2023 Retrieved 11 October 2023 קומץ מפקדים הצילו בגופם 90 טירונים סיפורו של הקרב ההירואי בזיקים הארץ in Hebrew Retrieved 2023 11 14 nbsp This Israel Defense Forces related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bahad 4 amp oldid 1188354149, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
