What It’s Like to Lead a Tank Crew Under Fire in Combat. Go beyond the hardware and step into the mindset of an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Tank Commander. In this raw and personal 2025 interview, a Merkava Mk. 4 commander from the 401st Brigade shares what it takes to operate one of the world's most advanced tanks under the "crazy stress" of combat. From intense weekly drills preparing for every possible scenario to leading the charge in the Jabalia operation in Gaza and making life-or-death decisions involving civilians, this is the untold story of the human element inside the steel.br br This video provides a crucial ground-level perspective on the moral and tactical challenges of modern warfare. The commander shares his personal motivation: to protect his country so that Israeli civilians from the communities near Gaza in the south and the Lebanese border in the north can finally return home safely.br br ► Ground-Level Context for the 2025 Israel-Hamas War:br br This commander's testimony provides a vital perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the broader security challenges Israel faces in 2025. His experiences in Jabalia during the recent two-year war with Hamas highlight the complex reality of modern urban warfare and the stringent Rules of Engagement (ROE) the IDF operates under. The constant training and ethical considerations are shaped by persistent threats from terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah on Israel's southern and northern borders. His desire to see citizens return to their homes in communities like Sderot, Ashkelon, Kiryat Shmona, and Metula speaks to the ongoing impact of these conflicts on Israeli society and the ultimate goal of achieving lasting security.