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2nd Brigade - Carmeli

The Carmeli Brigade was formed by David Ben-Gurion in February 1948 to be one of nine elite fighting units, known as the Palmach. The Carmeli Brigade was initially responsible for operations in Haifa and western Galilee. Two months later, the Carmeli Brigade engaged in fierce fighting with several waves of Arab Druze forces, but succeeded in repelling the assault on the city of Haifa and then moved on to capture Arab positions in Acre. In late May and early June of 1948, the Carmeli Brigade faced Iraqi forces battling for the city of Jenin and although Israeli forces captured to town, they soon had to withdraw from it due to ineffective defenses. Throughout the Israeli war for independence, the Carmeli Brigade served as one of the primary units in the Israeli army.

Brigade 2 - " Carmeli " is one of the six brigades established at the beginning of the War of Independence (1948) and at the beginning was part of the "Lebanese" area. Golani operated in the valleys and the eastern Galilee, and "Carmeli" - in the Haifa area and the western Galilee. The 3 battalions were subordinated to the Carmeli Brigade - 21, 22 and 23, and the brigade was given the number "2". During the War of Liberation, another battalion was established - 24.

The first commander of the brigade was Moshe Carmel, who later became the commander of the Northern Front (general of the Northern Command) and in his place came Maj. 22 Mordechai Maklef, later the Chief of Staff of the IDF. During the War of Independence, the brigade participated in many operations, culminating in the liberation of the city of Haifa on April 21-22, 1948.

At the end of the war, the brigade was reorganized, and became a northern reserve brigade with a base in the valleys. When this brigade was disbanded, in February 1948, it split into two brigades - "Golani" and "Carmeli". Until 1974, the brigade functioned as the Haamkim helicopter gunship (Hatmar Tzemach).

In the Six Day War, the brigade held positions in the Jordan sector and took part in the campaign to conquer the Golan Heights. In the War of Attrition, the brigade took part in the defense of the Jordan Valley and Beit Shan Valley. In the Yohak War, the brigade took part in the defense of the Valleys and the Golan Heights. After the war, the brigade was separated from the Valleys Htmar and was called the 165th Brigade. C The brigade fought in the western sector, the Tzur-Sidon axis, Sidon, Ein Hilva and Birut. During the 1933 war and after it, the brigade carried out military operations in the Birut area and on the Birut-Damascus road.

In 2005, by order of the Chief of Staff, the historical name " 2nd Brigade " was returned to the brigade " Following the demand of the veteran fighters and the commanders of the brigade. In the Second Lebanon War in 2006, the brigade took part in the fighting in the central and western sectors of southern Lebanon.