The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime chokepoint under Iranian control, remains the most sensitive artery of the global economy. With nearly a fifth of the world’s oil transiting through its waters, Iran frequently exploits the threat of its closure as a potent geopolitical bargaining chip against the West and the Gulf states. However, the concept of mitigating this vulnerability by carving out a terrestrial route to the Mediterranean is far from novel. The vast network of pipelines that traversed the Middle East in the previous century—winding directly through the Golan Heights and Haifa—was forged out of this exact strategic necessity. To understand this historical energy map, one must distinguish between two monumental engineering projects: 1. The Kirkuk–Haifa Oil Pipeline (1935–1948): Constructed by the British Empire, this pipeline was designed to pump crude oil from the fields of Iraq directly to the refineries and port of Haifa. It served as a critical lifeline for the British Mediterranean Fleet during World War II. The pipeline was permanently shuttered in 1948, following the establishment of the State of Israel, when the Iraqi government refused to pump oil to the nascent Jewish state. 2. The Trans-Arabian Pipeline - "Tapline" (Established 1950): This American-financed megaproject was built to link the vast oil fields of Saudi Arabia to the Mediterranean Sea. While the original blueprint slated the pipeline to terminate in Haifa, the geopolitical upheaval of 1948 forced a last-minute rerouting. The line bypassed Israel, cutting through the then-Syrian Golan Heights to terminate in Lebanon. Remarkably, after Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Six-Day War, the pipeline continued to operate under Israeli custody through quiet, pragmatic agreements with the Saudis. The historic "Oil Road" (Kvish HaNeft) in the Golan was paved to service this line, which remained functional until the 1970s and 80s when the Lebanese Civil War forced its final shutdown.

At the heart of Israel's covert history lies a special place for Brigadier General (Res.) Tzuri Sagi (Shinkin), who passed away at the age of 92. Sagi, one of the most prominent commanders and a living legend of the Paratroopers Brigade, left behind a glorious combat legacy spanning 32 years of IDF service. Yet above all, his name will be remembered for one extraordinary mission across the border—the clandestine operation that laid the foundations for Kurdish autonomy in northern Iraq. A vivid and fascinating testimony of his unique story is preserved, among other places, in a special Zoom broadcast available on the YouTube channel of military historian Dr. Uri Milstein, featuring Sagi alongside military historian Dr. Levinstein and the author of this article who participated in its filming. In the 1960s, Sagi was secretly dispatched to northern Iraq as a senior military advisor to the Kurdish rebels, under the leadership of the mythical leader Mustafa Barzani. In those days, the Kurds were fighting for their lives against a superior and well-equipped Iraqi army. Sagi brought with him the tactical brilliance and audacity of the Israeli Paratroopers. He developed a tailored combat doctrine for them based on mountain guerrilla warfare, trained snipers, and, in one of the operation's defining moments, planned a brilliant ambush that led to the complete destruction of an entire Iraqi brigade. This operation turned him into an admired figure of supreme importance in Kurdistan, altering the face of the Middle East and impacting regional security for decades to come. Sagi's ability to lead daring operations in the shadows was forged during an illustrious military career within Israel's borders. He enlisted in the IDF in 1952, served as a platoon commander in the 890th Battalion under Ariel Sharon, and took part in the complex reprisal operations of the 1950s. During the Sinai War, he commanded a company and parachuted into the historic Battle of the Mitla Pass. Later in his career, he commanded the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit (Sayeret Tzanhanim), the 890th Battalion, and served as the deputy commander of the regular Paratroopers Brigade. During the Yom Kippur War, he commanded the 317th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade, which fought in the Syrian enclave, while simultaneously managing the highly sensitive Mount Dov sector.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEVvAKQoGcA