Yahalom Unit
The Yahalom Unit (Unit 5528) is the IDF's elite special forces combat engineering unit, specializing in counter-tunnel warfare, sabotage, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), and high-risk demolition. Operating under the Combat Engineering Corps, Yahalom is the primary force responsible for locating, mapping, and neutralizing sophisticated underground terror infrastructure across all fronts.
The Yahalom Unit is the Israel Defense Forces' premier authority on underground warfare and explosive engineering. Its name, a Hebrew acronym for 'Special Operations Engineering Unit,' reflects its broad mandate to handle the military's most complex technical and tactical challenges on the battlefield. The unit is divided into several specialized sub-units, including 'Samur' (specializing in tunnels), 'Sapir' (EOD and ordnance disposal), and 'Yael' (clandestine demolition and maritime engineering). In recent years, Yahalom has transitioned from a support role to a frontline offensive force, particularly as the threat of subterranean warfare from Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon has intensified.
In June 2026, Yahalom played a critical role in the exposure and dismantling of a massive Hezbollah tunnel network beneath the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon. This Iranian-funded complex, located just six kilometers from the Israeli town of Metula, featured sophisticated living quarters, medical facilities, and weapons storage designed to house hundreds of terrorists for extended periods. Operating alongside the Golani Brigade and the Maglan unit under the 36th Division, Yahalom forces utilized advanced mapping technologies and specialized demolition methods to neutralize the network, which the IDF characterized as strategic infrastructure for a planned large-scale invasion. The unit's expertise in navigating these 'tunnel cities' is vital to ensuring that subterranean threats do not facilitate cross-border raids or sustained attacks against Israeli civilians and sovereignty. As the IDF continues its campaign in southern Lebanon, Yahalom remains the lead element in the systematic destruction of the 'Axis of Resistance's' underground assets.