YATAR: Breaking Records, Defending Israel, Redefining Security
In June, one of YATAR’s specialized teams was deployed to the Northern Shomron—volunteer fighters drawn from Israel’s most elite IDF units, all determined to protect the land and its people. At the helm stood Master Sergeant (Res.) E, a father of four who lives in the region, alongside his deputy commander M, originally from the Five Towns. Together with six seasoned warriors, all over the age of 35, they were tasked with one of the most dangerous and critical missions: to stop smugglers, infiltrators, and terrorists before they could reach Israel’s heartland.
YATAR’s mission stretches across Israel’s borders, where teams operate daily to keep communities safe. In the Northern Shomron, this particular unit has written a remarkable chapter of courage, innovation, and success.
{The Power Of Innovation
The Shomron’s steep hills and rugged valleys often make it impossible for conventional forces to operate effectively. But the YATAR team refused to be limited. Equipped with YATAR’s all-terrain vehicles, they developed a new style of warfare—fast, flexible, and unpredictable. “On foot or in jeeps, they’d always see us coming,” explained Commander E. “But on the ATVs, we were everywhere at once. They didn’t know where we’d strike next. That unpredictability saved lives.” It didn’t take long for the locals to notice. Soon they had a name for them: “the men from the mountains.”
The impact was immediate. In less than four months, this compact team arrested more than 300 terrorists and infiltrators—shattering every arrest record in the Shomron.
Their missions grew more daring as they uncovered smuggling networks and dismantled illegal routes used for funneling weapons, explosives, and contraband into Israel. Each success further proved the power of their innovation and their unbreakable determination.
“We learned from the wars we’ve fought before,” said Commander E. “We adapted. And the results speak for themselves.”
Behind the numbers is a story of sacrifice. The fighters are husbands, fathers, and reservists who rarely rest. Their missions run deep into the night, often through Shabbat and holidays.
“We have no choice,” Commander M admitted quietly. “While families gather around the holiday table, we’re out there. Because if we’re not, the threats will come straight into their homes. That’s a responsibility we carry with pride.” Asked about the nasty nickname locals gave them, he smiled. “When the enemy fears you enough to give you a name, you know you’re making an impact.”
None of this would be possible without you—our partners, friends, and supporters. From the Five Towns to communities across the United States and the world, your generosity fuels every mission. When a YATAR ATV surges up a mountain path to intercept terrorists, it is because you put it there. When a smuggler is stopped at the border before he can bring weapons into Israel’s heartland, it is because you gave our fighters the tools to act. When Jewish families sleep safely in their homes at night, it is because you stood with us. Our fighters may be the ones on the front lines, but you are the quiet strength behind them—the reason they can keep going, the reassurance that they are not alone. Every arrest, every life saved, every mission completed belongs to you as much as to them. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.
The achievements of the YATAR team in the Northern Shomron are more than statistics. They are living proof of how a small, determined, and innovative group can change the security reality of an entire region.
Eight men, bound by courage and love of country, reshaped the battlefield. Their story is not just one of record-breaking arrests, but of unwavering devotion to Am Yisrael—and a reminder that when Israel’s defenders and global supporters stand together, no enemy will find the Jewish people unprotected.
