Special forces units in theIsrael Defense Forces encompass a broad definition of specialist units. Such units are usually aregiment or abattalion in strength.
Sayeret[1] (Hebrew:סיירת,pl.:sayarot), orreconnaissanceunits in theIsrael Defense Forces (IDF) nomenclature, specialize in intelligence gathering and surveillance. In practice, these units specialize incommando and otherspecial forces roles, in addition to reconnaissance (the degree of specialization varies by units and current needs).
Mista'arvim (Hebrew:מסתערבים,lit. Arabized;Arabic:مستعربين,Musta'arabin), also spelled as mistaravim, arecounter-terrorism units whose members are specifically trained to operate undercover, in enemy territory, in order to assassinate or capture wanted targets.
CommandoUnit 101, the founding Israeli special forces unit, was established and commanded byAriel Sharon on orders fromPrime MinisterDavid Ben-Gurion in August 1953.[2] They were armed with non-standard weapons and tasked with carrying outretribution 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 agriculturalKibbutzim andMoshavim. 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.[3]
The unit was merged into the890th Paratroopers 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.[4]
Sayeret units today
Israeli officers of the Paratrooper Battalion 890 in 1955 withMoshe Dayan (standing, third from the left).Ariel Sharon is standing, second from the left and commandoMeir Har Zion is standing furthest left.
All combatbrigades in the IDF include 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 asPalsar (Hebrewcontraction of: פלוגת-סיור,Plugat Siyur (singular) /Plugot Siyur (plural), "Reconnaissance Company"). Although thePalsar are mostly oriented at battlefield support (which is theirraison d'être), many have participated inspecial operations over the years.
While in the past there were differences between theSiyur units, learning from past events and in order to improve and develop their forces, the IDF has consolidating them into larger units with many different capabilities: battalion-sized units calledGadsar (contraction ofGdud Siyur, "Reconnaissance battalion"). EachGadsar is made up of three specializedPlugot (companies): demolitions andcombat engineering (Plugat Habalah Handasit, orPalhan), reconnaissance (Plugat Siyur,Palsar) and anti-tank (Pluga Neged Tankim, orPalnat).
In late December 2015, several IDF special forces units were transferred to theOz Brigade.[5][6]
Other SF units orSayaret are larger units, operating directly under theGeneral Staff. They are tasked with the most sensitive missions but they also support other conventional and SF units, if needed. Those units areSayeret Matkal,Shayetet 13 andShaldag.
IDF units
Reconnaissance units
Shayetet 13 commandos prepare for an exercise aboard a warship
These are the most well-known reconnaissance units. Their operators are proficient in long range solo navigation, as opposed to other special forces units in the IDF where long range navigation is done with a minimum of 2 operators.
General Staff Reconnaissance Unit 269 –Sayeret Matkal – the IDF's principalSayeret unit, is used mainly to obtain strategic intelligence behind enemy lines and to perform hostage-rescue missions on foreign soil. It is directly subordinate to the IsraeliMilitary Intelligence Directorate (AMAN).
13th Flotilla –Shayetet 13 – the naval commando unit. It is part of theIsraeli Navy and tasked with maritime hostage-rescue missions. Founded in 1948 by former members of thePalyam, the naval branch of theHaganah.
Unit 5101 –Shaldag – founded in 1974 by several former Sayeret Matkal veterans, it is theIsraeli Air Force's commando unit, specializing inforward air control, aerial & special reconnaissance, and target designation outside of Israel's borders.
The regular five infantry brigades (Golani,Givati,Nahal,Kfir and theParatroopers) operate their ownPalsars, today joint withPal'nat andPal'han to form a"Gad'sar/G'dud Siur", or Reconnaissance Battalion. Each unit is subordinate to a specific brigade command, though they are not restricted to it.
Combat Intelligence Collection Special Forces – tasked with intelligence-gathering, they operate either alone or in conjunction with other IDF units. They also provide target designation in wartime.[7]
Shayetet 7 - the unit which operates Israel's submarines.
Unit Snapir – force protection and harbor security unit.
YALTAM – defensivedivers unit tasked with mine countermeasures, explosive ordnance disposal and salvage and recovery. Not to be confused with Shayetet 13's own underwater unit.
Other units
Refaim - An highly versatile commando unit that combines various fields of warfare, including infantry, engineering, anti-tank warfare, aerial warfare and intelligence collection.
LOTAR – the IDF counter-terrorism school. Most IDF special forces units mentioned go through weeks of training led by LOTAR at theMitkan Adam base, and as such the school includes an operational unit made up by the school's instructors.
LOTAR Eilat – reserve force counter-terrorism/hostage-rescue unit based at the southern Israeli port city ofEilat. (Southern Command).
Mista'arvim – Undercover counter-terrorism personnel/units specifically trained to assimilate among the localArab population. They are commonly tasked with performing intelligence gathering, law enforcement, hostage rescue and counter-terrorism, and to use disguise and surprise as their main weapons.[9][10]
Mossad – Israel's covert intelligence and special operations agency abroad.
Kidon – a department within Mossad that is allegedly responsible for selective high-profileassassination.
