With the completion of Division 146's mission on the Lebanon border, and after 600 days of reserve duty, we heard from the founder of Unit 6213 how an offensive drone-operating team was built in just four months. 

From the urgent call from the division commander moments before heading home, to the daring operation to destroy a Hezbollah tunnel — this is how the reservists of the "Mapatz" formation helped shift the momentum to the IDF.

March 2024, northern border. After six months of intense defensive fighting against Hezbollah terrorists, the reservists of Recon Unit 213, part of the Fire Brigade in Division 146, were preparing for some rest and recovery.

“We had already told our families we were coming home – at least until the next round,” recalls Major (res.) G., founder of drone unit 6213. “My bag was packed when I got a call from then-division commander Brig. Gen. Israel Shomer. He asked us to quickly form a dedicated drone team within Unit 213 for rapid-targeting missions.”

“I thought I’d grab two or three guys, learn how to use the drone, and that’d be it,” G. admits. “We quickly realized it was much more complex.” 

Initially, they got their hands on a single drone: “We started experimenting and saw the potential.” Gradually, over four months, the team developed capabilities and recruited more fighters.

“We developed our own combat doctrine, gained the commanders' trust, and learned to rely on ourselves. Since then, throughout the entire defense of the sector, we’ve managed to locate and eliminate over 100 terrorists,” he declares.

During those months, Division 146’s fighters faced constant threats on the border: “Hezbollah didn’t hold back with anti-tank missiles and mortars — they fired whatever they had,” he says. “The turning point came when we could identify launch sites and hiding places. That allowed us to strike first — and the initiative shifted to us.”

As Unit 6213 sharpened their skills, they also expanded their arsenal. Alongside basic surveillance drones, they added a wide range of attack drones — suicide drones, bombers, and even large drones capable of carrying dozens of kilograms.

In October, as Division 146 began a ground maneuver in Lebanon, the drone team became a powerful force multiplier. “We crossed into southern Lebanon and flew drones from a northern location using stealth techniques to avoid exposure,” G. explains.

“We launched drones from that structure and saw the enemy before they could even approach us or our forces. We caught terrorists deep in Lebanese territory and eliminated them before they could fire or advance their plots,” G. recounts.

Before raids on villages, they scanned the terrain from the air. “To ensure there were no hidden explosives or ambushes,” he says. “We found and destroyed massive amounts of weaponry — rifles, launchers, motorcycles, even hidden shafts.”

Even after the ceasefire agreement came into effect, the unit continued enforcing its terms and thwarting violations: “We monitored the first and second village lines, and whenever we spotted terror activity — we struck. Even when Hezbollah tried to rebuild structures or searched destroyed weapon depots, we hit them — all from the air, without setting foot in homes or valleys, sparing soldiers’ lives.”

In one extraordinary operation, the unit discovered an underground structure just a few kilometers from the border. “Due to the ceasefire terms, we couldn’t enter Lebanon with vehicles. But we had to destroy the tunnel. One team went in on foot past the border, while the second team flew in dozens of kilograms of explosives via drones.”

“We flew back and forth multiple times to bring enough explosives to blow up the tunnel and everything inside. When the mission succeeded, we knew this was something on a whole different level.”

Last week, Division 146 completed its mission on the northern border and handed over control to Division 91. Even after more than 600 days of reserve duty, the unit’s fighters show no sign of stopping. “We’re now exploring how we can assist in other areas like Gaza and Judea and Samaria,” says G., “We continue to evolve, to fight, and to serve — wherever we’re needed.”