LOTAR

Not to be confused with Yamam or LOTAR Eilat.

The LOTAR Unit (Hebrew: יחידת הלוט"ר) stands for: Lochama Be'Terror (לוחמה בטרור), meaning "Combating Terrorism." It is also known as Unit 707 or The Counter-Terror School.

The Counter-Terror School
בית הספר ללוט״ר
Unit's insignia
Active	1974 (51 years ago) (1974)
Country	Israel
Allegiance	Israel Defense Forces
Type	Counterterrorism school Special operations unit
Role	Air assault Anti-tank warfare Artillery observer Bomb disposal CBRN defense Clandestine operation Close-quarters battle Counterterrorism Covert operation Desert warfare Direct action Executive protection Hostage rescue HUMINT Irregular warfare Long-range penetration Military education and training Mountain warfare Patrolling Raiding Reconnaissance Special operations Special reconnaissance Tracking Urban warfare
Garrison/HQ	Mitkan Adam
Nickname(s)	Unit 707
Motto(s)	מְלַמֵּד יָדַי לַמִּלְחָמָה וְנִחַת קֶשֶׁת־נְחוּשָׁה זְרֹעֹתָי (2 Samuel 22) "Who trained my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze!"[1]
Engagements	Second Lebanon War Operation Cast Lead Operation Protective Edge
Commanders
Notable commanders	Amos Kotzer - Founding Commander

Location of The LOTAR School in Mitkan Adam (lit. Adam Base)

It is tasked primarily with training other IDF units in the areas of anti-irregular military in insurgency areas, counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis management, tactical intelligence gathering, the use of sniper rifles, and various small-scale and short-range warfare scenarios. It also, to a lesser degree, performs these tasks itself.^[2] Furthermore the unit has taken on several other responsibilities including the theories of camouflage, the training of special soldiers called "monkeys" (trained in climbing and rappelling),^[3] and several other training scenarios. Meanwhile if really necessary unit's personnel must carry out military special operations according to assigned missions. Most of them focus on commando style raids, counterterrorism, covert operation, hostage rescue (if necessary), irrgular warfare, tactical intelligence gathering, and tracking high-value targets.

The LOTAR School is housed inside of Mitkan Adam (Hebrew: מתקן אדם, lit. 'Adam Base'),^[4] alongside the Oketz Unit^[5] and the Oz Brigade, southeast of Tel Aviv within the Hevel Modi'in Regional Council.

History

The unit was founded by its first Commander, Amos Kotzer, in 1974. It was created, along with Yamam, a unit in the Israel Border Police,^[6] primarily in response to the Ma'alot massacre, where a failed rescue operation by Sayeret Matkal resulted in the deaths of 25 hostages, including 21 children, before the hostage takers were killed.^[7][8]