Sayeret Matkal

The direct subordinate of the Directorate of Military Intelligence of the Israeli Defense Forces the unit Sayeret Matkal was formed in 1957. Focusing on the intelligence gathering the unit also specializes in special reconnaissance behind the enemy lines, plus tasked with hostage rescue, espionage and counter terrorism. Established from an example of British Air Service the unit has been involved in almost every major counter terrorism operations since its creation. 

After the Qibya massacre the Israeli’s first special forces Unit 101 was disbanded and left the Israeli Defense Forces without a dedicated special forces unit, other than the Navy Shayetet 13, which was failing to fill the gaps left by the Unit 101. In 1957 the IDF General Staff was petitioned to create a new unit that could be used to gathering top secret intelligence behind enemy lines. Handpicking only the best and brightest and modeled after British SAS the unit Sayeret Matkal was independently operational a year later, even surpassing the predecessor. In 1973, during the Yom Kippur War, the Israeli was fighting at two fronts which left the unit without the mission. After a hard decision to fight where there could be heavy casualties, the unit prevailed and was given missions to fight at the both fronts. A part of the unit was designated to work with the Israeli Air Forces, which was later became the Shaldag unit. In 1974 the unit had suffered a heavy blow, when they failed the rescue mission in        Ma’a lot massacre, which later the IDF created Yamam unit to focus on domestic counter-terrorism and the Sayeret Matkal to focus more on the foreign counter-terrorism. The most successful operation was 2 years later of the previous incident. The Operation Entebbe was by far the most famous, even though it was successful it wasn’t without casualties, which lost 4 hostages and the commander of the unit.  The Uzi weapon was mass produced because of it was favorite of the Sayeret Matkal, which also was modified to increase accuracy. 

The admitted voluntary recruits train almost 3 years, focusing on small arms, camouflage, reconnaissance and other survival skills to battle behind the enemy lines. In the final month before graduation, the trainees must march 120 kilometers throughout harsh terrain to reach Masada, where they are greeted by the veterans of the unit and receive their red beret.