Elite counterterrorism unit awarded 3rd citation of excellence by chief of staff

The IDF's elite Duvdevan ("Cherry") counterterrorism unit has been awarded its third citation of excellence from the IDF chief of staff.

The unit received the citation for its activities over the past year at a ceremony held Thursday at its home base. The event was attended by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot, GOC Central Command Maj. Gen. Roni Numa, and the unit's commander, identified only as Lt. Col. O., as well as the unit's officers and soldiers.

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said that Duvdevan, which specializes in undercover urban warfare, had earned the citation for "demonstrating steadfastness, courage and creativity in carrying out its missions, striving to capture [terrorists]."

This past year, the unit has spearheaded ongoing anti-terror actions in Judea and Samaria, while executing specific, complicated missions.

"The unit has participated in hundreds of operations, in complicated combat conditions, with the goal of arresting [terrorism] suspects, thwarting terrorist attacks and attacking terrorism infrastructure. The unit developed and put in place targeted combat methods that increased its operational effectiveness and broadened the capacity of urban guerrilla soldiers," the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said. The unit operates for the most part out of the public eye, with most of its actions going unrecognized.

Eizenkot noted that this was not the first time he had seen the Duvdevan unit accept a citation of excellence.

"I had the privilege of being at a similar ceremony [when I was] commander of the Judea and Samaria Brigade, 12 years ago, when the Duvdevan unit led the war against suicide terrorism. In effect, this is the third time the chief of staff has given Duvdevan soldiers a commendation. In the end, everything rests on people, on people's fighting spirit. Today, you are leading the IDF and the country in the battle against terrorism," Eizenkot told the members of the unit.