| 89th Brigade "Oz" | |
|---|---|
 89th brigade patch | |
| Active | 2015–present |
| Country |  Israel |
| Branch |  Israeli Ground Forces |
| Role | Commando |
| Part of | Central Command 98th Division |
| Nickname(s) | Commando brigade |
| Motto(s) | "Thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies" (Genesis 49:8)[1] |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Brigadier General Omer Cohen |
The89th Brigade "Oz" ("Courage" in Hebrew) is a special forcesbrigade of theIsrael Defense Forces (IDF).[2] It was established in December 2015. The new brigade, dubbed the Commando Brigade, is composed solely of infantry special-operations units removed from their previouschain of command structures to create a new tactical formation.[3] Commanded byColonel Omer Cohen, the brigade operates as part of the98th Division.[3][4][5]
According to the IDF, the Commando Brigade is the brainchild ofLieutenant GeneralGadi Eisenkot and is the implementation of operational lessons learned duringOperation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014 and theSecond Lebanon War in 2006. According to the 98th Division Commander, the brigade is an integration of the elite teams of the Infantry Corps under one command, and a body expected to lead operational and tactical thinking in order to establish a new warfare doctrine.[3][6] The new Brigade is intended to provide special operations units a previously lacking centre of gravity.[4]
The concept of a commando brigade was developed by IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot during the formulation of the 5-years military plan. The new brigade is said to draw further parallels between Israel's special forces and American75th Ranger Regiment.[7]
Other special-operations units,Sayeret Matkal,Shayetet 13,Shaldag,Oketz andYahalom continue to operate independently.[8]
The 89th Brigade consists of three (formerly four) special operations units of the IDF:[3][4] The brigade had a fourth battalion, the now defunct Unit 845, or "Rimon", desert warfare unit, which was absorbed into Maglan in June 2018.[9] As of 2023, the brigade consists of:
The insignia chosen for the new brigade depicts the Hebrew letter Quf (ק), the first letter in the Hebrew word for Commando (קומנדו), composed of a commando knife rising from the sea and a double headed arrow above it. It symbolizes the special designation of the brigade and its mobility, by air, land or sea.[3][12]
