For the first time in Israeli history, a female naval officer will take command of a frontline missile boat, the IDF announced.

Lieutenant Commander “Resh,” identified publicly only by her rank and Hebrew initial, is set to assume command of a Sa’ar 4.5-class missile ship during an official handover ceremony scheduled for tomorrow. The Navy described the appointment as a major operational milestone and a reflection of its commitment to professionalism and equal opportunity within its command structure.

The vessel she will command has been involved in several major wartime missions, including the destruction of the Syrian regime’s naval fleet in December 2024, the targeted killing of senior Hamas official Ismail Barhoum in March 2025, the elimination of a senior Hezbollah aerial commander in November 2024, and multiple interceptions of hostile aerial threats.

Resh enlisted in 2016 as a naval cadet and has since risen through the ranks, serving as deputy commander of a missile ship and previously commanding a Dvora-class patrol boat in the Navy’s 916th Patrol Squadron.