Special forces units in the Israel Defense Forces encompass a broad
definition of specialist units. Such units are usually a company or a
battalion in strength. Sayeret, or reconnaissance units in the
Israel Defense Forces, specialize in intelligence gathering and surveillance.
In practice, these units specialize in commando and other special forces roles,
in addition to reconnaissance. Mista'arvim, also spelled as mistaravim,
is the name given to those counter-terrorism units of the Israel
Defense Forces and Israel Border Police in which officers are specifically
trained to operate undercover, in enemy territory, in order to assassinate or
capture wanted terrorists. Special forces units in the IDF
= Unit 101= Commando Unit 101, the founding Israeli
special forces unit, was established and commanded by Ariel Sharon on orders from
Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion in August 1953. They were armed with
non-standard weapons and tasked with carrying out retribution operations
across the state's borders—in particular, establishing small unit
maneuvers, activation and tactical insertion and exit tactics.
Members of the unit were recruited only from agricultural Kibbutzs and Moshavs.
Membership in the unit was by invitation only, and any new member had to be voted
on by all existing members before they were accepted.
The unit was merged into the 890th Paratroop Battalion during January 1954,
on orders of General Dayan, Chief of Staff, because he wanted their
experience and spirit to be spread among all infantry units of IDF starting with
the paratroopers. They are considered to have had a significant influence on the
development of subsequent Israeli special forces units
= Sayeret units today= All combat brigades in the IDF have a
unit with improved weaponry and training used for reconnaissance and special
forces missions, trained to use advanced weapons and reconnaissance technology,
as well as hand-to-hand combat. Historically the brigades used to only
have one company-sized unit outfitted to do this job, known as Palsar / Plugot
Siyur, "Reconnaissance Company"). Although the Palsar are mostly oriented
at battlefield support, many have participated in special operations
during recent years. All infantry units as well as some armored units have
Palsar. While in the past there were differences
between the siyur units, due to the experiences of the past decades the IDF
is now consolidating them into larger units with many different capabilities:
battalion-sized units called Gadsar. Each Gadsar is made up of three
specialized Plugot: Demolitions and combat engineering, Reconnaissance and
Anti-Tank. This is part of the Yatah Project. This
project aims at changing the Reconnaissance battalions into
specialized urban counter terror units, that are specifically trained and
equipped to operate in current combat situations.
Other sayarot are larger units, operating under corps and commands.
There are several battalion-size special forces units which report directly to
regional, functional and the general commands. The best known of these are
Sayeret Matkal, Shayetet 13 and Yehidat Shaldag.
Known Sayeret units = Principal 3 special forces units=
These are the most well-known commando units. Their operators are proficient in
long range solo navigation, as opposed to other units where long range
navigation is done with a minimum of 2 fighters.
Sayeret Matkal – The IDF's principal Sayeret unit, used mainly to obtain
strategic intelligence behind enemy lines and to perform hostage-rescue
missions on foreign soil. It is directly subordinate to the Israeli Military
Intelligence Directorate. Shayetet 13 – The naval commando unit,
equivalent to the US Navy SEALs or British Special Boat Service. Also
tasked with maritime hostage-rescue missions. Part of the Israeli Navy.
Founded in 1948 by former members of the Palyam, the naval branch of the Haganah.
Shaldag Unit – Founded in 1974 by several former Sayeret Matkal veterans,
it is the Israeli Air Force's commando unit, specializing in forward air
control, aerial & special reconnaissance, and target designation
outside of Israel's borders. = Infantry Corps=
Egoz Reconnaissance Unit – counter-guerrilla unit, originally for
operating in southern Lebanon; part of Golani Brigade.
Rimon Reconnaissance Unit – commando unit of the Southern Command,
specializes in desert warfare; part of Givati Brigade.
Unit Alpinistim – IDF mountain-warfare unit operating in the Golan Heights;
provides protection for IDF electronic listening posts on Mount Hermon and Har
Avital. This unit also provides alpine rescue services.
Oketz Unit – the IDF's special K-9 unit. Also, four of the five infantry brigades
operate their own Palsars, the infantry "sayarot". Each unit is subordinate to a
specific regional command, though they are not restricted to these.
Gad'sar Nahal. Gad'sar Tzanhanim.
Gad'sar Golani. Gad'sar Givati.
= Armored Corps= Palsar 7 – the 7th Armored Brigade
reconnaissance unit. Palsar 188 – the 188th Armored Brigade
reconnaissance unit. Palsar 401 – the 401st Brigade
reconnaissance unit. = Artillery Corps=
Meitar/Moran – a unit operating long range precision-guided missiles.
Sky Rider – a combat unit operating the Elbit Skylark drone.
= Combat Engineering Corps= Sayeret Yahalom – the engineering
special forces unit, its missions range from EOD and bomb disposal to
counter-mining warfare. = Combat Intelligence Collection Corps=
Special forces detachments belonging to the Corps.
= Air Force= Unit 669 – combat search and rescue
unit, also in charge of civilian rescue services in peacetime.
Unit Yanmam – airborne-capable anti-aircraft unit.
Unit 5700 - aircraft landscape and desert specialist.
= Navy= Shayetet 7 – the submarine unit.
Unit Yaltam – salvage and recovery unit. Unit Yaban – force protection unit.
= Other units= Duvdevan Unit – special undercover unit,
surbordinate to the Judea and Samaria Division. As a mistaravim unit;
operators in the unit are trained conducting undercover operations
disguised as Arabs in urban areas. They traditionally do not allow their real
identities to become known to people outside their unit, and go to great
lengths to avoid being recorded electronically or otherwise.
Maglan – a commando unit which specializes in operating behind enemy
lines, only became publicly known in 2006.
LOTAR Eilat – reserve force counter-terrorism/hostage-rescue unit
based at the southern Israeli port city of Eilat.
= Disbanded units= Unit 101 – the first Israeli special
forces unit, commanded by Ariel Sharon. Samson Unit – former Gaza Strip
counter-terrorist unit. Sayeret Haruv – former IDF Central
Command special forces unit. Sayeret Shaked – former IDF Southern
Command special forces unit. Special Forces Units in the Israeli
Border Police The Yamam is the Israeli elite
counter-terrorism unit. This is one of the best units in the world, due to the
courage and experience of the unit and its fighters.The unit's activity is
classified and works closely with the Shin Bet.
Yamas is a special operations and mista'arvim unit directly subordinate to
the Army. Special departments within the Mossad
Kidon, the name of a department within Israel's Mossad that is allegedly
responsible for the execution of terrorists.
Gibush Young Israelis wanting to serve in the
sayarot usually go to Yom Sayarot. Held at the Wingate Institute, Yom Sayarot is
a day where prospective recruits undergo a series of physical and mental tests to
evaluate their aptitude for service in several units. Those wanting to join
Sayeret Matkal, Shaldag, Unit 669, Shayetet 13, the submarine service or
Hovlim must go to Yom Sayarot and perform the respective tests for each
service option. Other sayarot recruit their operatives
from the best recruits of the respective parent units. For instance, those who
excel during training in the Paratroopers Brigade are invited to try
to join Duvdevan, Maglan or the Special Forces battalion of the brigade; the
best of recruits of the Armored Corps are invited to apply for service in the
Armored reconnaissance units, etc. Drop-outs from some sayarot might be
able join other, less demanding sayarot units. For instance, drop-outs from
Shayetet 13 might be able to go to Unit Yaltam or Yaban; drop-outs from Shaldag
can end up in Unit Yanmam. The reserve sayarot such as Alpinistim
or LOTAR Eilat usually recruit its members after they finished the
mandatory 3-year service in some units: Alpinistim draws its members primarily
from Golani and LOTAR Eilat draws its members from former kravi that live in
Eilat. See also
Yamam – the elite SWAT unit in Israel Yamas – the Israeli police special
operations unit Shin Bet – Israel's internal security
agency Aman – Israel's military intelligence
agency Mossad – Israel's covert intelligence
and special operations agency Kidon – A department within Mossad that
is allegedly responsible for assassination
Isayeret References
External links IDF official Website
isayeret.com - Israeli Special Forces Database