Zero to 100: Inside Israel's Elite Unit 669

In this episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz sits down with Captain (Res.) Bar Reuven for an inside look at Unit 669, the Israeli Air Force's elite combat search and rescue unit. Bar reveals what it takes to earn a place in one of the IDF's most selective units, where thousands compete for only a handful of spots and training prepares soldiers for everything from battlefield evacuations to underwater, cliff, and aerial rescues. Bar reflects on the unprecedented demands placed on Unit 669 following October 7, its role in evacuating wounded soldiers and assisting rescued hostages, and the split-second, life-or-death decisions its members carry with them long after a mission ends.