With eyes on Syria: The soldiers who built a sukkah on the Golan Heights - facing enemy positions

An i24NEWS weekend magazine feature describes soldiers of the 595th Intelligence Battalion on the Syria border, building a sukkah at their Golan Heights base while maintaining high alert during the Sukkot holiday. The article presents the routine of holiday and war, the battalion's operational transformation from intelligence gathering to an independent strike force, and shares personal stories of soldiers, including a lone soldier who returned from the US and the first female soldier from a Haredi family.

An i24NEWS weekend magazine feature, by northern correspondent Uriah Keshet, describes soldiers of the 595th Intelligence Battalion on the Syria and Lebanon border, building a sukkah at their Golan Heights base while maintaining high operational readiness during the Sukkot holiday. The article presents the contrast between the holiday atmosphere and tourism in the north and the soldiers' constant vigilance. In the past two years, the battalion has undergone an operational transformation: from intelligence gathering alone, it has become a force combining independent strike capabilities, including prolonged surveillance of enemy targets until receiving approval for elimination. The article brings personal stories of soldiers: Staff Sergeant D., a lone soldier from a religious home who left the US at age 22 and enlisted following the events of October 7, and Staff Sergeant S., the first female soldier from a Haredi family of seven children who chose combat service. The military sukkah is described as a warm home uniting the teams from operational activity to a shared meal, and the soldiers convey a reassuring message to the public to celebrate in confidence.