IDF Rescue Operation In Kenya

On Friday, August 7, 1998, at approximately 1035 hrs. a car bomb exploded near the United States Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. As a result of the blast a building close to the embassy collapsed. The Prime Minister and Minister of Defense decided to send a search and rescue mission headed by the IDF Homefront Command.

The mission was comprised of 170 members and included representatives of the Homefront Command National Rescue Unit, dog handlers, regular personnel from the Homefront Rescue School, a Medical Corps delegation, Signals and Electronics Corpsmen, Public Affairs elements, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the press.

Appointed to head the mission was Homefront Command Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Ilan Harari. The commanders of the forces in the field were: Col. Shalom Ben-Aryeh, Commander of the Homefront Command Rescue School and commander of the Search and Rescue Unit, Lt. Col. Nahum Frenkel.

The mission departed for Nairobi in the early morning hours of Saturday August 8, and began operating in the disaster site just 23 hours after it received its first order. The IDF delegation was the first to arrive from abroad. It began to operate immediately upon arrival.

On August 10, GOC Homefront Command Maj. Gen. Gabi Ophir joined the delegation to observe the force’s performance firsthand.

The IDF mission succeeded in rescuing three individuals from the rubble.