Channels

Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit
Shaldaf troopers simulate a raid on an enemy site
Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit

Courage under fire: elite Shaldag unit invites press for simulated raid

After 40 years of carrying out some of the riskiest, most impressive and important military operations in IDF history, the elite Air Force commando unit invites the press to witness its practice routine, as the unit's fighters simulate raiding a Hezbollah stronghold.

For the first time since its establishment in 1976 as a lesson learnt from the Yom Kippur War and its annexation to the Navy a decade later, the commando unit Shaldag is releasing information about its methods of operation.

 

 

In a display recently conducted by the unit for military correspondents at the Palmachim military base outside of Rishon Lezion, a raid on a strategic military facility as may be used by Hezbollah was simulated. The raid simulated a deep penetration of IDF forces into enemy territory, and the soldiers arrived by dropping down a fast rope from a Black Hawk helicopter. This was preceded by the work of a small observation team that monitored the complex for several days, mapped it out, gathered intel  and, at the moment of truth, had its snipers fire at the high-security compound's guards.

סגורסגור

שליחה לחבר

 הקלידו את הקוד המוצג
תמונה חדשה

שלח
הסרטון נשלח לחברך

סגורסגור

הטמעת הסרטון באתר שלך

 קוד להטמעה:



 

After simulating the killing of the guards, squads raided the facility from a less exposed location via the helicopter. The forces showed their quick-raiding capabilities, application of intelligence assets from the strategic facility and detaining enemy forces they encountered. Shaldag conducted a similar raid on a Hezbollah stronghold in the city of Baalbek during the Second Lebanon War.

 

The Shaldag Unit practices a raid on Hezbollah headquarters (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
The Shaldag Unit practices a raid on Hezbollah headquarters (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

 

After the soldiers descended from the helicopter burst into the facility and opened fire, the main force arrived with dedicated equipment on SUVs that had landed a few kilometers away from the site.

 

Shaldag fighters during a practice raid (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
Shaldag fighters during a practice raid (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

 

The main force then proceeded to complete its mission, during which one soldier simulated being wounded from the clash. His treatment in the field and medical evacuation was also presented to the military reporters and photographers. In fewer than ten minutes—from the first sniper's snot to the seizing of valuable assets from the complex—the drill was completed swiftly, embarking on a return flight to Israeli soil.

 

Entering a building accompanied by the unit's hound (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
Entering a building accompanied by the unit's hound (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

 

Shaldag officers, some of whom are in reserves, expressed their surprise at the exceptional inclusion of the media; it was indeed an unprecedented level of access.

 

Waiting to strike (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
Waiting to strike (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

 

The arsenal and equipment used by the fighters during the simulation included a special sniper's rifle, special camouflage gear, Glock pistols, a noise dimmer and flare concealer, small explosive devices comprised of plastic explosives, flak jackets that allow for swift maneuvering and unique fighting gear equipped for extreme weather conditions and remote locations.

 

A helicopter picks up Shaldag troops during practice (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
A helicopter picks up Shaldag troops during practice (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

 

"The raid force includes raiders and infiltrators. A Shaldag infiltrator needs to have three main skills: understanding the layout of where he is operating, a precise and efficient shot and good, organic communication skills with their teammates," explained a Shaldag reserve soldier in his late 20s. the majority of the Shaldag unit is comprised of reserve soldiers who do at least 50 days of reserve duty a year until the age of 34, after which they move on to supporting roles outside the unit's operations core.

 

Celebrating 40 years of action

 

In the 40 years since its founding, Shaldag has only known nine casualties, none of whom died during an operation. Shaldag has taken on hundreds of missions that have prevented further armament of Hezbollah and Hamas, whether during quieter times or during Operation Protective Edge. It went up against 108 Hamas targets, many times as ground forces and not as their intended course of action, as an airfield reconnaissance and attack force.

 

"The time between battles is used to prepare the infrastructure for the next operation and war. It is in fact the unit's propelling engine," explained a senior officer in the unit. "We've gone on operations with only a few days' notice, combining technology, Intel and operations abilities. After we're done, we need to make it look like it never happened, so that not only will the IDF not be implicated ,but it'll look like no one was ever there."

 

Some of the IDF's top soldiers came out of Shaldag, including former Chief-of-Staff Benny Ganz, Maj.-Gen. Tal Russo, Maj.-Gen. Roni Numa, former Maj.Gen. Doron Almog, Brig.-Gen. Mickey Edelstein and Brig.-Gen. Gal Hirsch.

 

During the 90s and early 00s, Shaldag soldiers successfully carried out the first targeted ground force killings in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip, occasionally in broad daylight and from point blank range.

 

During the Second Lebanon War, Shaldag carried out 150 assaults and operations, including one in the Lebanese town of Baalbek, where 19 Hezbollah fighters were killed.   

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 10.07.16, 23:35
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment