War and Military Atlas

How Battles Were Fought
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Armed Forces and Units

Israeli Defense Forces

Modern

The Israel Defense Forces were established on May 26, 1948 by order of Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion following Israel's declaration of independence, formed by unifying existing Jewish paramilitary organizations, chiefly the Haganah alongside the Irgun and Lehi, into a single national military under one General Staff headed by a Chief of the General Staff reporting to the country's Defense Minister. The IDF operates as a unified command structure with three service branches, the Israeli Ground Forces, Israeli Air Force and Israeli Navy, organized further into four regional commands, Northern, Central, Southern and Home Front, and it maintains both a large standing force and extensive reserves sustained by mandatory conscription for citizens over eighteen. The IDF has fought in every major armed conflict involving Israel since its founding, including the 1948 Arab-Israeli War that accompanied its own creation, the 1967 Six-Day War, the 1973 Yom Kippur War and the 1982 Lebanon War, alongside numerous smaller operations and counter-terrorism campaigns in the decades since. Its combination of a unified tri-service command, a citizen reserve system that can rapidly expand the standing force, and continuous operational experience across more than seven decades has made the IDF one of the most closely studied militaries of the modern Middle East.

Facts
Force Type
Tri-service national military (ground forces, air force, navy) formed as a conscript military 1
Founded Year
1948 1
Country
Israel (State of Israel) 1
Force Type
Force Type (category)
Navy 1
Force Type (category)
Air Force 1
Israeli Defense Forces
Filter Results6 entries
Connections

Associated With

Iron Dome, Weapons Systems

The Iron Dome air defense system, operated by the Israeli Defense Forces, intercepts short range rockets fired at Israeli territory

Merkava Tank, Weapons Systems

The Merkava, designed with crew survivability as a priority, has been the Israeli Defense Forces' main battle tank since 1979

Fought In

Operation Entebbe, the 1976 hostage rescue at Entebbe airport, was carried out by the Israeli Defense Forces

Source Wikipedia: Operation Entebbe

Operation Opera, the 1981 airstrike that destroyed the Iraqi Osirak reactor, was carried out by the Israeli Defense Forces

Source Wikipedia: Operation Opera

Operation Solomon, the 1991 airlift of Ethiopian Jews to Israel, was secured by the Israeli Defense Forces alongside El Al aircrews

Source Wikipedia: Operation Solomon
Six-Day War, Wars

The Israel Defense Forces defeated Egypt, Jordan and Syria in the June 1967 Six-Day War

Operates

Source Wikipedia: 5.56x45mm NATO
Source Wikipedia: Besa machine gun
Source Wikipedia: BRDM-1
Source Wikipedia: BTR-50
Source David's Sling, Wikipedia
Source DM2A4
Source Wikipedia: EL/M-2084
Source Wikipedia: FM 24/29 light machine gun
Source Wikipedia: FN FAL
Source Wikipedia: FN MAG
Source Wikipedia: Iron Dome
Source Wikipedia: IWI Negev
Source Wikipedia: IWI Tavor
Source Jericho (missile), Wikipedia
Source Wikipedia: Luz (missile)
Source Wikipedia: M107 self-propelled gun
Source Wikipedia: M113 armored personnel carrier
Source Wikipedia: M2 Browning
Source Wikipedia: M4 carbine
Source Wikipedia: Merkava
Source Wikipedia: OT-62 TOPAS
Source Wikipedia: Panhard AML
Source Wikipedia: Ruger 10/22
Source Wikipedia: Trophy (countermeasure)
Uzi, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: Uzi
Source Wikipedia: Wind Demon
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Israel Defense Forces
Wikipedia
  • Lead paragraph 1
    is the national military of the State of Israel.
  • Lead paragraph 2
    the IDF was formed on 26 May 1948 and began to operate as a conscript military
View the Source
Wikipedia: Iron Dome
WikipediaOperates: Iron Dome, Infobox, used_by field
Quote, Operates: Iron Dome, Infobox, used_by field
Infobox used_by field: Israel Defense Forces
View the Source
Jericho (missile), Wikipedia
Operates: Jericho III Missile, Infobox, used_by field
Quote, Operates: Jericho III Missile, Infobox, used_by field
Infobox used_by field:
View the Source
DM2A4
Operates: DM2A4 Seehecht, Infobox, used_by field
Quote, Operates: DM2A4 Seehecht, Infobox, used_by field
Infobox used_by field: Germany, Greece, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Israel, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela
View the Source
Wikipedia: Besa machine gun
Operates: Besa machine gun, Infobox, used_by field
Quote, Operates: Besa machine gun, Infobox, used_by field
Infobox used_by field:
View the Source
Wikipedia: 5.56x45mm NATO
Operates: 5.56x45mm NATO, Infobox, used_by field
Quote, Operates: 5.56x45mm NATO, Infobox, used_by field
Infobox used_by field: NATO, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Israel, other major non-NATO allies
View the Source
Wikipedia: Ruger 10/22
Operates: Ruger 10/22, Infobox, used_by field
Quote, Operates: Ruger 10/22, Infobox, used_by field
Infobox used_by field: Israel Defense Forces
View the Source
Wikipedia: Wind Demon
Operates: Wind Demon, Infobox, used_by field
Quote, Operates: Wind Demon, Infobox, used_by field
Infobox used_by field: Israel Defense Forces
View the Source
Wikipedia: Uzi
WikipediaOperates: Uzi, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: Uzi, Wikipedia article text
There is a wooden stock with a metal buttplate that comes in three similar variations that were used by the IDF.
View the Source
Wikipedia: FN FAL
WikipediaOperates: FN FAL, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: FN FAL, Wikipedia article text
In 1955 the IDF adopted the IMI-produced Uzi submachine gun and the FN FAL in order to standardize their infantry armament; with the FAL being designated Rov've Mitta'enn or Romat (רומ"ט), abbreviation of "Self-Loading Rifle".
View the Source
Wikipedia: M4 carbine
Operates: M4 Carbine, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: M4 Carbine, Wikipedia article text
Standard issue in the Israel Defense Forces, but it has been gradually replaced with the IWI Tavor since 2001.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Merkava
WikipediaOperates: Merkava Tank, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: Merkava Tank, Wikipedia article text
The Merkava (, , "chariot") is a series of main battle tanks used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) which are the backbone of the IDF's Armored Corps.
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Wikipedia: M2 Browning
WikipediaOperates: M2 Browning Machine Gun, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: M2 Browning Machine Gun, Wikipedia article text
The M2HB has been in service with the Israel Defense Forces since its establishment and has served in all of Israel's wars, operations, and conflicts.
View the Source
David's Sling, Wikipedia
Operates: David's Sling, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: David's Sling, Wikipedia article text
David's Sling (), also formerly known as Magic Wand (), is an Israel Defense Forces military system jointly developed by the Israeli defense contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the American defense contractor Raytheon, that became operational in 2017.
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Wikipedia: FN MAG
Operates: FN MAG, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: FN MAG, Wikipedia article text
(top) and two FN MAG (bottom) *: Used by the Israel Defense Forces alongside IMI Negev and Negev NG7.
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Wikipedia: IWI Negev
Operates: IWI Negev, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: IWI Negev, Wikipedia article text
Both variants of the Negev are in service with the Israel Defense Forces.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Trophy (countermeasure)
Operates: Trophy (countermeasure), Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: Trophy (countermeasure), Wikipedia article text
Mark 4M equipped with Trophy APS technology during Operation Protective Edge. Trophy (Israel Defense Forces designation) is an active protection system (APS) for military armored vehicles designed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
View the Source
Wikipedia: IWI Tavor
Operates: IWI Tavor, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: IWI Tavor, Wikipedia article text
In 2009, the Tavor X95 (also known as the Micro Tavor or MTAR) was selected by the Israel Defense Forces to gradually replace the M16 assault rifle and M4 carbine variants as the standard-issued weapon of the Israeli infantry by the end of 2018.
View the Source
Wikipedia: M113 armored personnel carrier
Operates: M113 armored personnel carrier, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: M113 armored personnel carrier, Wikipedia article text
The M113 took part in the Yom Kippur War in October 1973, when the IDF was equipped with 448 M113s that saw action on the Sinai and Golan fronts.
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Wikipedia: BTR-50
Operates: BTR-50, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: BTR-50, Wikipedia article text
During this conflict, BTR-50s, along with T-54s and T-55s, were used by the IDF during the fighting in and around the city of Suez.
View the Source
Wikipedia: BRDM-1
Operates: BRDM-1, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: BRDM-1, Wikipedia article text
Both Egypt and Syria deployed BRDM-1s during the Six-Day War; a number of these vehicles were captured by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during that conflict and subsequently reused in unconventional operations.
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Wikipedia: Panhard AML
Operates: Panhard AML, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: Panhard AML, Wikipedia article text
The IDF armoured cars had been received by the end of 1963 and were first displayed publicly on the eve of Yom Ha'atzmaut, 1966.
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Wikipedia: M107 self-propelled gun
Operates: M107 self-propelled gun, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: M107 self-propelled gun, Wikipedia article text
The IDF acquired over 200 vehicles.
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Wikipedia: OT-62 TOPAS
Operates: OT-62 TOPAS, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: OT-62 TOPAS, Wikipedia article text
Some vehicles were captured and commissioned by the Israel Defense Forces.
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Wikipedia: EL/M-2084
Operates: EL/M-2084, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: EL/M-2084, Wikipedia article text
Several versions of the radar were purchased and are operated by a number of armies, including the Israel Defense Forces, Canadian Army, Republic of Singapore Air Force, Army of the Czech Republic, Slovak Armed Forces.
View the Source
Wikipedia: FM 24/29 light machine gun
Operates: FM 24/29 light machine gun, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: FM 24/29 light machine gun, Wikipedia article text
At least 200 examples were used by the Israeli Defense Forces in the 1947-1949 Palestine war.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Luz (missile)
Operates: Luz (missile), Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: Luz (missile), Wikipedia article text
These (as well as the Gabriel descendant of the Luz) were not only deployed by the IDF but were also widely exported for use by foreign militaries.
View the Source
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