LOTAR
| The Counter-Terror School | |
|---|---|
| בית הספר ללוט״ר | |
 Unit insignia | |
| Active | 1974 |
| Country |  Israel |
| Allegiance |  Israel Defense Forces |
| Type | Sayeret |
| Role | Special forces training, Counter-Terrorism, and Sniper Training |
| Garrison/HQ | Mitkan Adam |
| Nickname(s) | Unit 707 |
| Motto(s) | מְלַמֵּד יָדַי לַמִּלְחָמָה וְנִחַת קֶשֶׁת־נְחוּשָׁה זְרֹעֹתָי (2 Samuel 22) "Who trained my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze!"[1] |
| Engagements | Second Lebanon War Operation Cast Lead Operation Protective Edge |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Amos Kotzer - Founding Commander |
The LOTAR Unit, (Hebrew: יחידת הלוט"ר), is a counter-terrorism special forces (sayeret) unit within the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF),[2] also known as Unit 707 or The Counter-Terror School. LOTAR is a portmanteau of Hebrew: לוחמה בטרור, romanized: Lochama Be'Terror, lit. 'Combating terrorism'.
It is tasked primarily with training other IDF units in the areas of counter-terrorism, the use of sniper rifles, and various small-scale and short-range warfare scenarios. The unit has also taken on several other responsibilities including the theories of camouflage, the training of special soldiers called "monkeys" (trained in climbing and rappelling),[3] and several other training scenarios.
The LOTAR School is housed inside of Mitkan Adam (Hebrew: מתקן אדם, lit. 'Adam Base'),[4] alongside the Oketz Unit[5] and the Oz Brigade, southeast of Tel Aviv within the Hevel Modi'in Regional Council.
History[edit]
The unit was founded by its first Commander, Amos Kotzer, in 1974. It was created, along with Yamam, a unit in the Israel Border Police,[6] primarily in response to the Ma'alot massacre, where a failed rescue operation by Sayeret Matkal resulted in the deaths of 25 hostages, including 21 children, before the hostage takers were killed.[7][8]
References[edit]
- ^ "II Samuel 22:35, JPS, 1985". Sefaria. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "IDF Counter-terrorism: Lotar". The Jewish Virtual Library (American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise). Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "לוחמה בטרור, העידן החדש". Israel Defense (in Hebrew). 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
- ^ Bennett, R. M. (2011-08-31). Elite Forces. Random House. ISBN 978-0-7535-4764-9.
- ^ USA, IBP (2013). Israel Intelligence, Security Activities and Operations Handbook Volume 1 Strategic Information and Regulations. International Business Publications, USA. p. 104. ISBN 978-1-4387-2509-3.
- ^ "Identity of Outgoing Police Anti-terror Unit Chief Declassified". Haaretz. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
- ^ Bennett, R. M. (2011-08-31). Elite Forces. Random House. ISBN 978-0-7535-4764-9.
- ^ "israelinsider: security: Where terrorists learned to attack schools". 2007-03-11. Archived from the original on 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2023-05-31.