Friday, June 24, 2011

IDF's Special Forces

Israel has 40 Special Forces units, here are few of them:

These are the most elite IDF sayeret units. As such they perform the most important missions of the IDF, usually of a strategic nature. Its soldiers undergo longer training regimes than other sayeret units and are also 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 principal special operations/commando unit, used mainly to obtain strategic intelligence behind enemy lines, counter-terrorism, and to perform hostage-rescue missions outside of Israel's borders. Operatives from this unit have led, or been an instrumental part of, almost every notable counter-terrorist operation conducted on behalf of Israel from 1957 to the present

Shayetet 13 -
Within the IDF Navy exists an elite unite of commandos known as the Bat Men. The naval commando unit. Also in charge of maritime hostage-rescue missions. Part of the Israeli Navy, its selection and training is considered the most arduous of the entire IDF, due to its maritime role.

Shaldag Unit -
Shaldag is primarily tasked with targeting enemy structures and vehicles for assault by Israeli fighting aircraft. Using their high-energy laser designators, they can mark targets for fighter-bomber launched laser-guided bombs or Hellfire missiles from Israeli AH-64 helicopters. Many times this involves long range patrols to the target sites. Because of this Shaldag is also sometimes used for reconnaissance. They also provide assistance and operate in Counter Terrorism and hostage rescue operations.

Sayeret Duvdevan -
Duvdevan (Cherry) is an elite special forces unit, directly subordinate to the West Bank Division. Duvdevan are particularly noted for conducting undercover operations against militants in urban areas. During these operations, Duvdevan soldiers typically drive modified civilian vehicles and wear Arab civilian clothes as a disguise. Duvdevan is one of the most prestigious units of the IDF, and thus recruitment to it is highly desirable among recruitment-aged youths in Israel.

Yamam - SWAT Unit -
The Yamam is the elite civilian counter-terrorism unit in Israel. The Yamam is capable of both hostage-rescue operations and offensive take-over raids against targets in civilian areas. Besides military duties, it also performs SWAT duties and undercover police work. The Yamam has carried out many paramilitary operations. Some of the missions known to the public prior to the al-Aqsa Intifada.

Israeli SWAT Team Wins International Counter-Terror Competition at 2010
In a highly under-reported win, Israel’s Police Counter-Terror force, the “YaMaM,” won the international “Urban Shield” counter-terror competition against 27 top rated police and federal SWAT teams from around the world. Not only did Israel place first, but their point score was the highest ever in the history of the Israel Swat Team Police competition. The competition featured special counter-terrorism units from various countries and was held in California.

Yamas - Mistaravim -
Mistaravim, lit. Arabized, is the name given to those counter-terrorism units of the Israel Defense Forces in which soldiers are specifically trained to disguise themselves as Arabs in order to kill or capture a wanted terrorist. These are also commonly known as the 'Arab Platoons'. In Tom Clancy's Op-Center: Acts of War, it is stated that Mistaravim do not allow their real identities to become known to people outside their unit, and that even when they are undercover, they go to great lengths to avoid being recorded.

669 - Airborne combat search & rescue -
669, Airborne Rescue And Evacuation Unit 669 is the Israel Defense Forces heliborne medevac extraction unit, subordinate to the Special Air Forces Command of the Israeli Air Force. It is considered one of the IDF's premier elite units.

Oketz Unit -
Oketz operators are often assigned to other units in the case of a particular need for their specialist skills, such as in the extraction of terrorists from fortified buildings. Though not affiliated with the IDF Paratroopers Brigade, Unit Oketz operators wear the same distinctive red berets and the unit's graduation ceremony is held at the Paratroopers headquarters.

Egoz Reconnaissance Unit -
The Egoz Reconnaissance Unit is an elite special forces unit that specializes in guerrilla and anti-guerrilla warfare among other things. The Egoz Battalion is part of the Northern Command's Golani Brigade. Before the year 2000, Egoz operated mainly in Israel's Northern Command, combating threats from the Hezbollah. Following Israel's withdrawal from Southern Lebanon, its operations were moved to the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In 2003 and 2004, Egoz prevented more terrorist acts than any other IDF unit.

Paratroopers Commandos -
Sayeret Tzanhanin is a commando force roughly analogous to the United States Army's Rangers. They are capable of airborne operations, and have conducted many long range patrols into Lebanon since the Lebanon War.

Sayeret Maglan -
Sayeret Maglan is an Israeli Special Forces unit which specializes in operating behind enemy lines and deep in enemy territory using advanced technologies and weaponry. The Unit specialize in long range missiles warfare using Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM). The unit is also involve in ground laser designation for the Israeli Air Force (IAF) attack helicopters and jets. The unit's name is derived from the Ibis bird. The Unit is also known as the "Missiles Hunter". The IDF keeps the unit's designated missions a secret and gives no information about it or the operations in which the Unit takes part.

Sayeret Yahalom -
Yahalom (Diamond) is a special elite Commando and combat engineering unit of the Israeli Engineering Corps of the IDF. Sayeret Yahalom is a classified unit and almost none of its special activities are exposed to the public. When its activities are published, they are usually just credited to a "combat engineering force";

2 comments:

  1. wow i am so proud of them...What a divine mission they have<3 wow what a wonderful tribute!


    Annie

    ReplyDelete
  2. IDF special forces? You have to be kidding! Only capable of killing un-armed protestors or lightly armed Palestinians. A sick bunch of cowards fighting for a racist government.

    ReplyDelete

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