Or Ben-Yehuda

Or Livni Ben-Yehuda (; born 1989) is an IDF officer who was in command of Caracal Battalion from July 2023 to July 2025, one of the mixed-gender IDF units. She is the first woman to command a border defense battalion in the IDF.

Career She enlisted in 2007 and after completing basic training attended the squad commanders’ course, then trained at Bahad 1 officer training school before being assigned as a platoon commander. She left for the reserve in 2012, but was soon recalled to reserve duty.

In October 2023, she led Caracal Battalion in an hours-long battle in the Gaza envelope, halting the advance of Hamas, killing an estimated 100 of them.

She was interviewed by the New York Times about the experience of being a woman combat soldier in Gaza.