What was Unit 101 under Ariel Sharon’s command?

Unit 101 was a specialized commando group within the Israel Defense Forces that Ariel Sharon was appointed to lead in July 1953.1

The unit was tasked with conducting reprisal raids against Jordanian border villages in response to incursions by Arab irregulars. Under Sharon’s command, the unit was granted significant independence, which he exercised with a reputation for impetuosity and recklessness.1

The unit is most notably associated with a retaliatory attack in October 1953 against the village of Qibya in the West Bank. The operation resulted in the deaths of 69 civilians, including many women and children, an event that drew widespread international and domestic criticism. Despite this, Sharon maintained the support of Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, who viewed him as a visionary military leader.1