The Israeli Special Forces are the premier units at the disposal of the Israeli Defence Forces. Indeed, Israel is home to internationally renowned units such as Sayeret Matkal, Shayetet 13, Shaldag and Unit 669. Each of these units has proven their elite combat abilities over a long series of conflicts.
Despite boasting a rich and action-packed heritage, Israeli special forces have far from a clean record, often finding themselves embroiled in controversy. This article will follow the development of Israel’s special forces from national independence in 1948 to war with Hamas in 2024 based on declassified and publicly available information.
1. Symbols, Patches, Mottos and History of the Israeli Special Forces
1.1 Sayeret Matkal
Sayeret Matkal is the special reconnaissance unit of Israel’s General Staff. Primarily a field-intelligence gathering unit, Sayeret Matkal is also a highly capable clandestine special operations force. [source]
Who Dares Wins”
Sayeret Matkal motto
1.2 Shayetet 13
Shayetet 13 is the premier reconnaissance unit of the Israeli Navy. The unit specialises in damaging naval infrastructure and gathering high level maritime intelligence. They engage in land, air and sea operations with personnel also specialists in counter terrorism, guerrilla warfare, operational parachuting and naval assault. [source]
”As the bat emerges from the darkness, as the blade cuts through with silence, as the grenade smashes with rage”
Shayetet 13 motto
1.3 Shaldag Unit
Shaldag also known as Unit 5101 is the reconnaissance unit of the Israeli Air Force. The unit conducts high risk commando raids behind enemy lines, seeks and destroys enemy air defence systems and assists IAF airstrikes. Alongside Sayeret Matkal, Shaldag is considered the tip of the Israeli spear. [source] [source]
“Rare kind, strange bird”
Shaldag Unit motto
1.4 Unit 669
Unit 669 is the Israeli Air Forces’ tactical rescue team. The unit was formed to rescue Israeli pilots and soldiers missing behind enemy lines. Unit 669 adopted the cat as their insignia as they claim to “operates with agility and in secrecy but, when necessary, knows how to operate aggressively in a hostile environment.”. [source]
Call upon me in times of trouble, I will be there for you and rescue you. Psalm 50”
Unit 669 motto
1.5 History of the Israeli Special Forces
1.5.1 Pre-Independence
Israeli special forces can trace their heritage back to the Haganah during the British Mandate of Palestine. Formed in 1920, the Haganah was a Jewish paramilitary organisation formed to protect Jewish settlements from Arab attacks. In 1941, fearing an Axis advance from Western Egypt, the Haganah formed six mobile strike companies called the Palmachs. [source] These units were to be Israel’s first special forces units. The British Special Operations Executive trained the Palmachs in sabotage, patrols, marksmanship, face to face combat, field training and squad commander training. In May 1941, Palmach units were involved in an unsuccessful raid on Axis oil depots in Tripoli with none of the 23 elite Jewish soldiers ever returning. [source]
Following the Second World War, Jewish paramilitary organisations entered into open revolt against British rule, using their new guerilla warfare capabilities to fight for independence. During the War, the Palmach’s sea company, known as Palyam, was responsible for underwater demolition and water-bourne operations. [source] However most of their activity involved illegally smuggling Jewish immigrants into the Mandate of Palestine, in contravention to British efforts to curb immigration. [source] When Israel gained independence in 1948, the Palmach’s were absorbed into the newly formed Israeli Defence Force. The Paylam were absorbed into the Israeli Navy with elements of the elite Jewish unit forming Shayetet 13 in 1949.
1.5.2 Post-Independence
During the 1950s, Israel suffered a series of conventional and terrorist attacks from neighbouring Arab states. In 1951, the IDF formed Unit 30 to carry out retaliatory attacks. However, the unit lacked well-trained officers and performed poorly, eventually being disbanded in 1952. [source] Out of the ashes of Unit 30, emerged the controversial Unit 101 which consisted of former Unit 30 members and Tzanhamin (paratroopers). The unit would directly answer to the Israeli General Staff.
Similar to Unit 30, Unit 101 engaged in retaliation and infiltration missions against Arab positions. [source] However in 1954 the group was disbanded following the Qibya Massage, a reprisal mission against the Arab Legion that resulted in 67 dead Arab civilians in the village of Qibya. [source] The concept of a special forces unit at the behest of the General Staff persisted and the IDF looked quickly to replace Unit 101. In 1957, inspired by the organisation and structure of the British Special Air Service (SAS), former Palmach Avraham Arnan, formed Unit 504. Better known as Sayeret Matkal, the unit was to consist of Israel’s best intellectually and physically, focus primarily on military targets and answer only to the IDF general staff. [source]
In 1974, In the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War, Muki Betzer formed the Shaldag Unit. Betzer, a Sayeret Matkal veteran, brought other Matkal personnel with him to create the new unit. [source] The unit started life as a Matkal reserve force tasked with going behind enemy lines to conduct commando raids, establish airfields and conduct air traffic control. [source] In 1978, Shaldag was transferred to the Israel Air Force becoming their premier special forces reconnaissance unit.
2. Organisation of the Israeli Special Forces
2.1 Hierarchy
Israeli Special Forces can be divided into first and second-tier units. Elite Israeli Special forces which include Sayeret Matkal, Shayetet 13, Shaldag and Unit 669 answer directly to the IDF General Staff. Considered Israel’s cutting edge, the units often train together however retain their distinct specialisms. [source]
The second tier of Israeli Special Forces consists of Commando Brigades. Previously all three commando units, Duvdevan, Maglan and Egoz were loosely supervised by the Chief Infantry Officer. However, since 2015, all commando brigades have been placed under the headquarters of the newly formed 89th Commando Brigade. Nonetheless, each unit has retained its distinctive territorial identities and specialisms. For example, Duvdevan, from the highly urbanised centre, continues to specialise in counterterrorism and operations in densely populated regions. [source]
Note that Sayeret Rimon was disbanded in 2018. The commando brigade based in the southern region of Israel the unit specialised in desert warfare.
2.2 Force Composition
2.2.1 The Elite Four
- Sayeret Matkal – General Staff Reconnaissance Unit
- Shayetet 13 – Israeli Navy Reconnaissance Unit
- Shaldag Unit – Israeli Air Force Reconnaissance Unit
- Unit 669 – Israeli Air Force Search and Rescue Unit
2.2.2 89th “Oz” Brigade – The Commando Brigade
- Unit 217 – Duvdevan Unit – Urban Combat
- Unit 212 – Maglan Unit – Anti-tank warfare
- Unit 621 – Egoz Unit – Reconnaissance and close combat
2.2.3 Regular Infantry Brigades with Special Forces Elements
- 1st “Golani” Brigade – Northern Command [source]
- 631th Reconnaissance Battalion
- 84th “Givati” Brigade – Southern Command [source]
- 846th Reconnaissance Battalion
- 900th “Kfir” Brigade – Central Command [source]
- 93rd Haruv Battalion
- 933rd “Nahal” Brigade – Southern Command [source]
- 934th Topaz Reconnaissance Battalion
- 35th Paratrooper Brigade – Central Command [source]
- 5135th Reconnaissance Battalion
2.2.4 Other Special Forces Units
- Alpinists – Mountain Warfare
- Oketz – Canine Unit
- Yahalom – Combat Engineer Unit
- Sky Rider Unit – Drone Warfare Unit
[source]
2.3 Israeli Special Forces Recruitment
In Israel, all men and women over the age of 18 serve in the IDF. Men have to serve for a minimum of 32 months and women 24 months. [source] To join a special forces unit, personnel must volunteer themselves for Yom Sayerot, a one-day mental and physical tryout. The very best Yom Sayerot candidates pass onto Gibbish Matkal, a five-day advanced basic training course.
Strong Yom Sayerot candidates who do not make Gibbish Matkal typically join Israel’s second-tier special force units such as the Commando Brigade. Gibbish Matkal offers successful candidates the chance to join one of Israel’s four elite special forces units, with Sayeret Matakl considered the most prestigious. [source] The Yom Sayerot first tests:
- Endurance Running (carrying jerry cans, stretchers, sandbags etc. sandy hills)
- Medical aptitude
- Weapon assembly (time pressured and sleep deprived)
- Survival skills (Pitching tents, digging holes)
[source]
During Yom Sayerot, observers constantly analyse the candidate not only to monitor their fitness but also to measure their mental aptitude and teamwork skills. Successful Yom Sayerot candidates are then selected for the 21-month Gibbish Matkal qualification course. The first 16 months of the course trains recruits to:
- Advanced Navigation Training,
- Warfare Training,
- Survival Training,
- Shooting and Sniping
- Advanced technology Training
- Advanced Swimming and Diving Course
[source]
The final five months of Gibbish Matkal are classified and not publicly known. Successful Gibbish Matkal candidates will serve with their designated special forces unit for three years. [source]
3. Israeli Special Forces Equipment
3.1 Weapons – Small Arms
3.1.1 Assault Rifles
- 5.56×45 NATO – IWI Tavor 95 (MTAR-21) Bullpup assault rifle with MARS reflex sight
- 5.56×45 NATO – M4A1 Carbine Shortened Assault Rifle Equipped with M21 Reflex Sight
- 5.56×45 NATO – M16A1 Assault Rifle Equipped with ACOG Sight
3.1.2 Submachine guns
- 9×19 Uzi Submachine Gun
- 9×19 Mac-10 Machine Pistol Equipped with a Suppressor (limited use by Shayetet 13)
3.1.3 Pistols
- 9×19 Jericho
- 9×19 Glock 17
- 9×19 Glock 19
- 9×19 Sig Sauer P226
- 7.62×36 Heckler and Koch P11 Underwater Pistol (used by Shayetet 13)
3.1.4 Light Machine Guns
- 7.62×51 IWI Negev NG-7 Light Machine Gun
3.1.5 Sniper/Bolt Action Rifles
- .22 10/20 Ruger semi automatic small calibre rifle (used for non-lethal crowd control)
- 7.62×51 Model 89 Sniper Rifle (used by Dudevan 217)
3.1.6 Grenade Launchers
- M203 Underbarrel Grenade Launcher usually mounted on IWI 95, M4 and M16
- 40 mm Mk 19 Grenade Launcher
- 40 mm Mk 47 Grenade Launcher
3.1.7 Hand Grenades
- M26A4 Fragmentation Grenade
- IDF M48 Flash Grenade
3.1.7 Man Portable Anti-Tank and Anti-Aircraft Systems
- Stinger FIM-92 Man Portable Air Defence System
- Spike Anti-Tank Guided Missile
- M-72 LAW Anti-Tank Guided Missile
3.1.8 Drones
- Skylark (1&2) – Mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) used for tactical surveillance
3.3 Gear
- Rabintex IIIA Ceramic Helmet
- Standard Issue IDF helmet cover
- Mitznefet Helmet Cover (A floppy helmet cover which breaks up the outline of the soldiers head)
- ESS Crossbow Suppressor 2X protective glasses (Bright and Dark Lense Variants)
- Marom Dolphin Semi-Modular Plate Carrier
- Standard Issue IDF Belt with Metal Buckle
- Axis Knee Pads
- Belleville Combat Boots (Red or black leather depending on unit)
[source]
4. Operational History of the Israeli Special Forces
4.1 Six Days War (1967) and War of Attrition (1967-70)
During the Six Days War, Shayetet had very limited success. The unit was tasked with neutralising enemy fleets as the Israeli Navy did not have the firepower to do so. Shayetet did, in essence, successfully infiltrate the Egyptian Port Said, but there were no ships present at the time. Nonetheless, Shayetet attempted a second raid on the port of Alexandria this time utilising a team of divers. This raid was more disastrous, with six of the divers becoming stranded and later captured by Egyptian forces. [source]
During the War of Attrition, Shayetet launched a series of commando and sabotage raids that were considerably more successful. A notable success for Israeli special forces was the 1969 Green Island Raid. Green Island was an artificial island south of the Suez Canal in the Dead Sea . Originally built by Britain during the Second World War, the island was now under Egyptian control. Israeli intelligence believed it hosted an early-warning radar and ELINT station.
In this case, the Israeli Defence Force chose to target the heavily fortified island to send a message and demonstrate that Israeli forces could strike anywhere in Egypt. [source]
4.1.1 Operation Bulmus
The Green Island Raid was to be a joint operation between Shayetet and Matkal. Poor performance shattered Shayetet’s morale and reputation in 1967. However, there was a willingness to reinvigorate the naval special forces unit given Israel had recently acquired 800km of new coastline. Prior to the assault, Maktal trained alongside Shayetet, building up the unit’s infantry fighting skills. [source]
The joint operation also known as Operation Bulmus began when Shayetet and Matkal reached the island using submersible swimmer delivery vehicles. Four special forces teams assaulted the island engaging the Egyptian defenders in close combat. [source] Two of the teams held up the defenders while the other two neutralised anti-aircraft positions. The radar system identified by Israeli intelligence prior to the operation turned out to be a decoy. In total, the operation lasted 39 minutes with 6 Israel special forces members killed for the 70-80 Egyptian defenders (estimated to be the whole garrison). The mission successfully demonstrated to Egypt that Israel produced capable fighters and that their military strength was not solely based on technology [source]
4.2 Yom Kippur War 1973
During the Yom Kippur War, Shayetet infiltrated Egyptian ports and sank 5 Egyptian navy ships. On 16 October 1973, the IDF launched Operation Lady which saw Shayetet infiltrate port Said using submersible swimmer delivery vehicles. The raid resulted in the sinking of a torpedo boat, a coast guard craft, a landing craft and a missile boat. Shayetet typically destroyed Egyptian navy vessels by strapping type M-72 mines to the underside. [source]
In October 1973, Maktal led an operation to rescue Yossi Ben Hanan, a wounded tank commander stuck behind enemy lines. The mission was led by Yonatan Netanyahu, the older brother of future prime minister Benjamin. [souce]
4.3 First Lebanon War 1982
During the 1982 Lebanon War, Shayetet assisted in creating a beachhead at the mouth of the Awali River. Shayetet came ashore aboard rubber dinghies and neutralised armed Palestinian defenders in the area. Over the next several days, the beachhead enabled the IDF to land 2,400 soldiers and 400 tanks.[source] From 6 to 13 June 1982, Israeli forces launched a lightning assault from the Awali beachhead to Beirut. [source]
4.4 Operation Orchard 2006
On 6 September 2006, the Israeli Defence Force successfully destroyed a Syrian nuclear facility in Deir ez-Zor region. Shaldag played a crucial role in the operation. Shaldag was airlifted by helicopter into Syria the night before the raid. They “illuminated” the facility with their laser designators. The following day, Israeli Air Force F15Is dropped laser-guided bombs on the site, destroying it. Shaldag were then evacuated back to Israeli territory.[source] Israel did not officially acknowledge the raid until 2018. [source]
4.5 Israel-Hamas War 2023
During the 7 October Attack, all four of Israel’s special forces units were deployed to areas of Southern Israel overrun by Hamas fighters. On 8 October 2023, Israeli authorities announced that 596 soldiers were killed on the first day of the Hamas operation. Of the 596 killed were 11 Matkal, 8 Shaldag, 4 Unit 669 and 2 Shayetet. [source]
On 27 October 2023, prior to the Israeli ground invasion, Shayetet conducted seaborne shaping operations. Shayetet raided Hamas’ positions along the Gazan coast, destroying naval infrastructure used by Nukhba, a Hamas naval commando force.[source]
In February 2024, Shayetet successfully rescued two hostages held by Hamas in Rafah, Gaza. During the operation, Shayetet forces breached the Hamas facility and placed themselves between the abductees and hostage takers. Israeli authorities claim that only one Shayetet was lightly wounded whereas all Hamas personnel were killed. Following the raid, the hostages and Shayetet were evacuated by helicopter as the Israeli Air Force stood by to provide air support. [source]
5. Conclusion
Israeli special forces can rightfully claim to be amongst the world’s elite by pointing at their proven track record and vast experience in Middle Eastern conflicts. Formed from militiamen in the 1940s, Israel’s special forces development was heavily influenced by existential threats and the need to respond to asymmetric threats. Israeli special forces evolved from a retaliatory force to a deterrence force.
In essence, this shift was catalysed by improvements in recruitment and training from the late 1950s to 1970s which elevated Israeli special forces to elite status. About the ongoing war in Gaza, Israeli special forces will continue to be crucial to the Israeli government’s strategy by providing an elite vanguard force and orchestrating hostage rescues.
This article has been recently updated by Jake Cremin. The original version of the article was written by Abbi Clark and Michael Ellmer.
