Tzuri Sagi, Legendary Paratrooper and Architect of Israel-Kurdish Ties, Dies at 92
Retired Brig.-Gen. Tzuri Sagi, one of the most celebrated paratroopers in the history of the Israel Defense Forces, was laid to rest on Thursday in Tel Mond at the age of 92. He leaves behind his wife Tzipa, his son Yair, and a legacy that spans battlefields, alliances, and the very soul of the Jewish homeland.
Sagi's 32 years of service read like a chronicle of Israel's most defining moments. From commanding regional brigades in the Jordan Valley, the Shlomo Gulf, and the Golan Heights, to shaping the early ethos of the Paratroopers' 890 Battalion, he embodied the spirit of a fighter, a farmer, and a thinker. His was a life dedicated to the security and resilience of the Jewish state, and his impact will be felt for generations.
Who was Tzuri Sagi, the IDF's pioneering paratrooper?
Born in Herzliya and raised in the moshav of Ein Vered, Sagi enlisted in the Paratroopers in 1952. He rose through the ranks under the mentorship of legendary figures like Arik Sharon and Rafael Eitan. Even as a young officer, he was a driving force behind a revolutionary shift in IDF doctrine, moving from a defensive posture toward initiative and offensive warfare. This bold thinking, once considered groundbreaking, would become a cornerstone of the Israeli military's strength.
What daring missions defined Sagi's early career?
Following the integration of Unit 101 into Battalion 890, Sagi quickly proved his mettle in reconnaissance missions deep behind enemy lines. In one harrowing operation in the Gaza Strip, near Deir al-Balah, Sagi and his partner, disguised and concealed, moved through Arab communities and refugee camps. When they feared exposure, they stormed a tent of armed Egyptian fighters, survived heavy gunfire, and completed their intelligence gathering. Their composure and resourcefulness earned high praise from Sharon and Meir Har-Zion.
During Operation Olive Leaves in December 1955, Sagi's leadership shone again. When Rafael Eitan was seriously wounded in the assault on a Syrian post near the Sea of Galilee, Sagi took command, destroyed the Syrian machine guns, and captured the position. His courage under fire was a testament to his character.
How did Sagi's leadership shape Israel's key victories?
In 1965, during Operation Rock Cliff, the Kalkilya raid, IDF Chief of Staff Yitzhak Rabin lauded Sagi's command of Battalion 890. Rabin noted the battalion's