| Multidimensional Unit / Unit 888 | |
|---|---|
 Unit 888 Insignia  | |
| Active | 2019–present |
| Country |  Israel |
| Allegiance |  Israel Defense Forces |
| Branch |  Israeli Ground Forces |
| Type | Combined Arms |
| Role | Direct action Intelligence gathering Tactical development Testingmilitary technology |
| Size | Battalion[1] |
| Part of | 99th Infantry Division (Reserve) (He) Maneuvering Corps GOC Army Headquarters |
| Nickname | "Refaim" (Ghosts) |
| Mottos | “But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.”Proverbs 9:18[2] |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel Tal Ashure[4] |
| Notable commanders | ColonelRoi Levy |
TheMultidimensional Unit, also known asUnit 888 or the“Refaim” Unit (Hebrew:יחידת רפאים,lit. 'Ghost Unit'), is anIsrael Defense Forces (IDF)Special Operationstask force operating under theGround Forces. Established in 2019 byIDF Chief of StaffAviv Kochavi as part of the "Momentum" program, the unit aims to developmulti-domain operations tactics and adapt to evolving threats and battlefield conditions.[5] It integrates multiple warfare domains—includinginfantry,engineering,anti-tank warfare,aerial warfare, andintelligence collection—and serves as a testing ground for new military technologies.[6]
The Multidimensional Unit was established in 2019 under theIDF's "Momentum" program (known as "Tnufa" inHebrew), a multi-year initiative to enhance military capabilities in response to emerging threats.[6] The unit was publicly announced on January 1, 2020. Itsheadquarters had been established earlier, and initial combat troops were allocated shortly before the announcement.[7] In February 2020, the unit unveiled itsinsignia: a sword within the number 8, with arrows in various directions, and apommel displaying thebinary code "1101111000" (representing the decimal number - 888).[8]
A notable event in its history occurred onOctober 7, 2023, when its first commander,ColonelRoi Levy, was killed during thebattle of Re'im in theGaza war.[9] On June 24, 2025 Corporal Eitan Zacks was killed by an Iranian missile strike on his home inBe’er Sheva.[10]
Unit 888 is designed for versatility, combininginfantry,engineering,anti-tank warfare,aerial warfare, andintelligence collection into a cohesive force.[6] It serves as a testing ground for new warfare tactics and technologies. The unit supports the "Momentum" program's focus on the "sensor to shooter" loop, which aims to detect targets (sensors) and strike them (shooters) more quickly and effectively. This work aims to influence broaderIDF strategies.[6] While its exact structure remains classified, it reportedly draws personnel from elite units like theNahal Brigade andParatroopers Brigade, suggesting a composition of highly skilled soldiers.[11] The unit is led by acolonel.
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Enlisted personnel selected for Unit 888 must go through a physical and mental selection process before starting training. Because of the unit's flexible nature and its mission to develop new tactics within theIDF, soldiers undergo regularspecial forces selection processes while also being tested forcreativity andproblem-solving skills. Combat training includes enduring extreme physical and mental challenges for over 14–16 months, which mosttrainees will not complete. Those who successfully complete training may receive additional training specializing in a specific field, and only then can go fully operational.[citation needed]
The unit has been active in theGaza war, with a significant loss on 7 October 2023, whenColonelRoi Levy was killed in thebattle of Re'im.[9] The unit saw its operational debut before the Gaza War, but during the war its operations were made public for the first time, conducting its first public ground operation inGaza, including activity inJabalya andnorthern Gaza, where it operated advanced technologies likearmed drones and precisionmortars.[12]
Media related toMultidimensional Unit (IDF) at Wikimedia Commons