At the Iron Dome base in the south, Capt. Sahar Saudian was the first to spot the flood of rockets from the Gaza Strip appearing on the screen. It was her first experience under combat conditions, but she responded with precision and determination. Quick action by her and by other soldiers prevented hundreds of further deaths from direct hits. Until senior officers arrived at the base later that morning, she managed the event as the highest-ranking officer on the scene.
She quickly realized that the supply of interceptor missiles could soon be exhausted, and she took it upon herself to ride out into the field and load the launchers close to the border, undeterred by reports of terrorist infiltration into Israel. Two other soldiers accompanied her: Sgt. Binyamin Gavriel Yonah and Sgt. Nativ Kuzaro. The three of them happened upon terrorists and were killed. May they rest in peace.
