Sayeret
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sayeret (Hebrew סיירת, pl. sayarot), literally means "reconnaissance unit" in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). In practice, these units specialize in commando and other special forces roles, in addition to reconnaissance (the degree of specialization varies by units and current needs). Such units are usually a company or a battalion in strength.
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[edit] Sayeret units in the IDF
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 (Hebrew Contraction of: פלוגת-סיור, Plugat Siyur (singular) / Plugot Siyur (plural), "Reconnaissance Company"). Although the Palsar are mostly oriented at battlefield support (which is their raison d'être), 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 (contraction of Gdud siyur, "Reconnaissance battalion"). Each Gadsar is made up of three specialized Plugot (companies): Demolitions (Plugat Heil Handasa, or Palhan), Reconnaissance (Plugat Siyur, Palsar) and Anti-Tank / Heavy Weapons (Plugat Neged Tankim, or Palnat).
This is part of the Yatah ("Low-Intensity Combat Unit") 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. It must be recognised that the Palsar of these battalions were once considered to be of superior quality in comparison to the other two companies but now all are of rather equal status.
Other sayarot are larger units, operating under corps and commands. There are several battalion-size special forces units which report directly to regional, functional (navy/air-force) and the general commands. The best known of these are Sayeret Matkal, Shayetet 13 and Yehidat Shaldag.
[edit] List of known sayeret units
Sayarot and elite special operations units that became public over the years include (while it is believed that other units which have not gone public also exist):
- Sayeret Matkal is a special operations unit under the IDF Intelligence Command. It is a designated deep reconnaissance unit but it also has counter-terrorist responsibilities. The unit is modelled on the British Special Air Service. It is perhaps most known internationally for Operation Entebbe (in which they rescued more than 100 Air France airline passengers hijacked to Uganda by PLO ) and similar operations like Operation Isotope.
- Sayeret Tzanhanim is an elite unit contained within the Tzanhanim Brigade, is considered the most highly trained out of the four infantry sayarot. The training is considered the toughest in the IDF, after Shayetet 13. The unit participated in the Entebbe operation in conjunction with Sayeret Matkal and Sayeret Golani.
- Yehidat Shaldag is the Israeli Air Force Commando unit. The unit perform special missions by using advanced combat technologies. It is best known for its actions in Operation Litani, Operation Sharp and Smooth, and the speculation about its role in Operation Orchard.
- Sayeret Yahalom is a special elite combat engineering unit of the Engineering Corps. It is specialized in accurate demolitions and planting pinpoint explosives along with other high-scale combat engineering operations in and outside the Israeli borders.
- Shayetet 13 ("Flotilla 13") is the elite Israeli amphibious naval special forces commando unit. It is known for its Tyre raid and Operation Bulmus 6.
- Duvdevan Unit - The Duvdevan Unit is one of the most renowned special forces units in Israel for its undercover operations. Only Duvdevan and Sayeret Matkal are authorized to wear their uniforms without identifying shoulder tabs.
- Sayeret Egoz - IDF Northern Command Counter-Guerilla Unit
- Unit Oketz - IDF K-9 unit
- Unit Moran & Unit Meitar - IDF Artillery Corps Special Forces Anti-Armour Units
- Unit Yachmam - IDF Target Observation and Deep Reconnaissance
- Unit Yanmam - Airborne-capable Anti-Aircraft unit
- Sayeret Maglan - Airborne Forces Anti-Tank Unit
- Sayeret Haruv - Former IDF Central Command Special Forces unit
- Sayeret Shaked - Former IDF Southern Command Special Forces unit
- Sayeret Rimon - Former Counter-Terrorism unit that was forerunner to others like Shimshon and Duvdevan. Meir Dagan was a member of Rimon.
- Samson's Foxes - Gaza Strip: Former Occupied Territories Counter-Terrorism unit
- Unit Yaban - IDF/Navy Force Protection unit (Along with Unit Oketz has female operators within its ranks)
- Unit Yaltam - IDF/Navy Salvage and Recovery unit
- LOTAR Eilat - IDF Reserve Force Counter-Terrorism/Hostage Rescue Unit, based at the Southern Israeli port city of Eilat.
- Unit 669 - IDF/AF Aeromedical Rescue Unit.
- Palsar 7 & Palsar 188 & Palsar 401 - The 7th, 188th and 401st Armored Brigades Reconnaissance units
- Unit 707 - Former IDF/Navy Defensive Divers unit.
- Unit 5707 - IDF/AF Target Observation and Surveillance unit.
- Unit 869 - Specialist Visual Intelligence, Observation and Surveillance unit
- Unit Alpinistim - IDF Alpine unit that patrols the Golan Heights and provides protection for IDF Electronic Listening Posts located at Mount Hermon and Har Avital. This unit also provides alpine rescue services.
Each of the four Infantry Brigades (Golani, Givati, Nahal and Paratroopers) has its own Gadsar (Gedud siyur, as mentioned above) special unit contained within it. Each unit belong to a specific regional command, an there it mainly operate, but all the "Gadsar" unit work in almost every region they call.
- Gadsar Nahal - belong to central command - mainly work in the west bank
- Gadsar Tzanhanim (paratroopers) - belong to central command - mainly work in the west bank
- Gadsar Golani - belong to northern command
- Gadsar Givati - belong to southern command
[edit] See also
- Yamam - the elite SWAT unit in Israel
- Shin Bet - Israel's internal security agency
- Aman - Israel's military intelligence agency
- Mossad - Israel's covert intelligence and special operations agency
- Paratroopers Brigade - the IDF paratrooper brigade
- isayeret
- Delta Force
- SEAL Team Six
- Special Activities Division
[edit] External links
- IDF official Website
- isayeret.com - Israeli Special Forces Database (pay site for non-Israeli visitors)
