Sayeret
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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. 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), "Special Forces Company"). Although the plugot siyur 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 the 7th Armoured Brigade have plugot siyur.
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 Yahsar (contraction of yechidat siyur, "Special Forces Unit"). Each Yahsar 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.
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 Sayeret Shaldag.
[edit] List of known sayeret units
- Sayeret Matkal is a special operations unit under the IDF General 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 best known for Operation Entebbe, in which they rescued more than 100 Air France airline passengers hijacked to Uganda by PLO terrorists.
- Sayeret Shaldag is the Israeli Air Force Commando unit. The unit perform special missions by using advanced combat technologies.
- Sayeret Yahalom (formerly Sayeret Yael) is a special elite combat engineering unit of the Engineering Corps. It is specialized in accurate demolitions and planting pinpoint explosives.
- Shayetet 13 ("Flotilla 13") is the Israeli naval commando.
Other sayarot that became public over the years:
- Sayeret Egoz - Northern Command
- Sayeret Haruv - Central Command
- Sayeret Shaked - Southern Command
- Sayeret Maglan
- Sayeret Duvdevan - West Bank
- Sayeret Shimshon - Gaza Strip between 1985-1995
Each of the four Infantry Brigades (Golani, Givati, Nahal and Paratroopers) has its own Yahsar (yechidat siyur, as mentioned above).
- Yahsar Nahal - West Bank
- Yahsar Tzanchanim - West Bank
- Yahsar Golani - Gaza Strip
- Yahsar Givati - Gaza Strip
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- IDF official Website
- isayeret.com - Israeli Special Forces Database (pay site for non-Israeli visitors)
