Renowned IDF paratrooper, architect of Kurdish relations, Tzuri Sagi dies aged 92

Retired Brig.-Gen. Tzuri Sagi, a renowned IDF paratrooper and architect of Israeli-Kurdish relations, passed away at 92 and was laid to rest in Tel Mond. Sagi served 32 years in the IDF, holding various operational and command roles, and was instrumental in shaping the IDF's shift towards offensive warfare. He was particularly influential in the early days of the Paratroopers' 890 Battalion and later became a key figure in establishing Israel's ties with Kurdish rebels, earning significant admiration among the Kurdish people. IDF Chief of Staff Yitzhak Rabin praised his performance, stating, "It was a good performance in accordance with the objectives that were set. I have no words, only words of praise." Sagi's legacy includes advising the Ethiopian army and assisting Iran, but his deep involvement in the Kurdish struggle, including training and tactical planning that led to the decisive Battle of Mount Handrin in 1966, profoundly impacted the enduring pro-Israel sentiment in Kurdish areas. He retired in 1984 to work on his agricultural farm.