Inside Israel's all-female tank unit taking on Hamas
Dec 1, 2023 20:55:29 GMT -5
Post by Pink Rose on Dec 1, 2023 20:55:29 GMT -5
Lionesses of the Desert: Inside Israel's all-female tank unit taking on Hamas terrorists - and led by British captain, 20, who says her role is 'a dream come true'
Tamara is one of just 40 women in the 33rd Caracal Battalion's tank unit
By NICK PISA ON THE ISRAEL-EGYPT BORDER
PUBLISHED: 12:34 EST, 1 December 2023 | UPDATED: 19:20 EST, 1 December 2023
A British tank commander has spoken exclusively to MailOnline of her pride at being in an all-female tank unit taking on Hamas terrorists in a role that she says is 'a dream come true'.
Tamara, 20, is one of just 40 women in the 33rd Caracal Battalion's tank unit which has seen service since October 7 after Hamas launched their deadly invasion killing more than 1,200.
Originally from Hendon, north London, Tamara moved to Israel after her grandfather was killed in a terror attack in Jerusalem in 2008.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline at her base in a classified location in southern Israel close to the Egyptian border, she described how she had sprung into action on the day of the invasion.
Standing by her Merkava battle tank Tamara said: 'I was woken by the sound of rockets and sirens and knew that this was what we had been trained for and my time was now.
'I jumped into my car and within a few minutes I was at the base and in the tank. Our role is to defend our country and that's what I am trained to do and what I am ready for.
'We must do it and we have to look after ourselves - our grandparents and parents looked after us when we were younger and that's what I am doing now here for my country.'
The Caracal Battalion is legendary within the Israeli Defence Forces and is named after the caracal, a small cat whose sexes appear the same and more than 70 per cent of whom are women.
Its motto in Hebrew translates as 'The Winning Combination' and it has seen action numerous times since it was formed in 2000.
Full story with pictures and video at the link
Tamara is one of just 40 women in the 33rd Caracal Battalion's tank unit
By NICK PISA ON THE ISRAEL-EGYPT BORDER
PUBLISHED: 12:34 EST, 1 December 2023 | UPDATED: 19:20 EST, 1 December 2023
A British tank commander has spoken exclusively to MailOnline of her pride at being in an all-female tank unit taking on Hamas terrorists in a role that she says is 'a dream come true'.
Tamara, 20, is one of just 40 women in the 33rd Caracal Battalion's tank unit which has seen service since October 7 after Hamas launched their deadly invasion killing more than 1,200.
Originally from Hendon, north London, Tamara moved to Israel after her grandfather was killed in a terror attack in Jerusalem in 2008.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline at her base in a classified location in southern Israel close to the Egyptian border, she described how she had sprung into action on the day of the invasion.
Standing by her Merkava battle tank Tamara said: 'I was woken by the sound of rockets and sirens and knew that this was what we had been trained for and my time was now.
'I jumped into my car and within a few minutes I was at the base and in the tank. Our role is to defend our country and that's what I am trained to do and what I am ready for.
'We must do it and we have to look after ourselves - our grandparents and parents looked after us when we were younger and that's what I am doing now here for my country.'
The Caracal Battalion is legendary within the Israeli Defence Forces and is named after the caracal, a small cat whose sexes appear the same and more than 70 per cent of whom are women.
Its motto in Hebrew translates as 'The Winning Combination' and it has seen action numerous times since it was formed in 2000.
Full story with pictures and video at the link
