Caracal Battalion

The Caracal Battalion (Hebrew: גדוד קרקל) is one of the Israel Defense Forces' four co-ed infantry battalions. The unit is named after the caracal, a medium-sized wild cat that is common in Israel's desert regions, which is known for having no visual gender differences between males and females.

Established in 2000, the Caracal Battalion was formed in response to the "equality amendment" to Israel's Military Service law, which stated that women have an equal right to serve in any position within the IDF. The battalion is composed of both male and female soldiers who serve in combat roles.

The battalion is primarily deployed along Israel's southern border with Egypt and Jordan, where it conducts border security operations. During the Iron Swords War, Caracal soldiers were among the first responders to attacks on southern communities, with many displaying exceptional bravery in the face of terrorist infiltrations.

The Caracal Battalion has become a symbol of gender equality in the IDF and has proven that mixed-gender combat units can be highly effective in operational settings.