Israel doesn’t have just one “special forces” unit; it has several elite units, often grouped under the umbrella of IDF (Israel Defense Forces) special forces, commonly referred to in Hebrew as “Sayeret” units.

Quick Scoop: Core Names To Know

When people ask “what is Israel special forces called,” they are usually referring to one or more of these famous units:

  • Sayeret Matkal – The IDF’s most prestigious and secretive special operations unit, often simply nicknamed “The Unit.” It focuses on deep reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and high-risk special missions behind enemy lines, and led the famous Entebbe hostage rescue in 1976.
  • Shayetet 13 – Israel’s elite naval commando unit, roughly comparable to the U.S. Navy SEALs, specializing in sea-to-land raids, maritime counterterrorism, sabotage, and hostage rescue.
  • Shaldag – The Israeli Air Force’s elite commando unit, used for deep penetration, targeting, and support of air operations, including missions in places like Ethiopia and Syria.
  • Egoz – An elite infantry unit focused on guerrilla and anti‑guerrilla warfare, especially against threats from Lebanon and Syria, with intensive training in camouflage, night navigation, and counter‑terror operations.
  • Duvdevan – A covert undercover unit that conducts counter‑terror and arrest operations in places like the West Bank and Gaza, known for operating disguised among local populations.
  • Unit 669 – An elite search‑and‑rescue and combat evacuation unit of the Air Force, specializing in extracting wounded personnel and civilians under fire using helicopters.
  • Yahalom – The IDF’s special combat engineering unit, known today for tunnel warfare, demolitions, bomb disposal, and underground combat, particularly against tunnels from Gaza.

In everyday language, people might say “Israeli special forces” or “IDF special forces,” but within Israel they’re often talked about by these specific unit names, especially Sayeret Matkal and Shayetet 13 , which are considered among the very top tier.

Mini Table: Main Israeli Special Forces Names

Unit Name Rough Role Branch
Sayeret Matkal Strategic recon, special ops, counter‑terror, hostage rescue behind enemy lines Army / General Staff
Shayetet 13 Naval commandos, sea‑to‑land raids, maritime counter‑terror and sabotage Navy
Shaldag Air Force commandos, deep target designation and special missions Air Force
Egoz Guerrilla and anti‑guerrilla warfare, northern front and beyond Infantry (Golani)
Duvdevan Undercover urban counter‑terror operations in Palestinian areas Paratroopers Brigade
Unit 669 Combat search‑and‑rescue, medical evacuation under fire Air Force
Yahalom Special combat engineering, EOD, tunnel warfare, demolitions Engineering Corps

Forum‑Style Take

On a lot of military forums, when someone asks “what is Israel special forces called,” replies usually split into two camps:
– People who answer “Sayeret Matkal or Shayetet 13” as the elite units.
– Others who point out that “Sayeret” is just the Hebrew term for recon/special units in general, and then list several units like Egoz, Duvdevan, Shaldag, Yahalom, and 669 as part of the broader Israeli special forces ecosystem.

TL;DR

  • There is no single unit simply called “Israel Special Forces.”
  • Collectively, they are elite IDF “Sayeret” units.
  • The most iconic names you’ll hear are Sayeret Matkal and Shayetet 13 , plus others like Shaldag, Egoz, Duvdevan, 669, and Yahalom.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.