Firefox https://en.wikipedia.

org/wiki/Shayetet_13#External_links

Shayetet 13

Shayetet 13 (Hebrew: 13 ‫שייטת‬, lit. Flotilla 13) is a

13th Flotilla
unit of the Israeli Navy and one of the primary
sayeret (reconnaissance) units of the Israel Defense Shayetet 13
Forces. Shayetet 13 specializes in sea-to-land
incursions, counter-terrorism, sabotage, maritime
intelligence gathering, maritime hostage rescue, and
boarding. The unit is trained for sea, air and land
actions.[1] The unit has taken part in almost all of
Israel's major wars, as well as other actions.

The unit is one of the most secretive in the Israeli S'13 Insignia
military. The details of many missions and identities Active 1948–present
of active operatives are kept highly classified. The
Country Israel
unit is respected as among the best of the world's
special forces,[2] and is compared to the US Navy Branch Israeli Navy
SEALs and Britain's Special Boat Service.[3] Unlike Type Maritime Sayeret
many other Israeli Special Forces Units which take Special Operation Force
men only for their 36-month mandatory service,
Role Special Operations
volunteers for Shayetet 13 must agree to service at
Counter-terrorism
least four and a half years.[4] Unit's Motto: "As the
bat emerges from the darkness, As the blade cuts Sabotage
through with silence, As the grenade smashes in Special Reconnaissance
rage." In addition the unit is also referred to as Visit, board, search, and
"people of silence". seizure (VBSS)
Size 3 companies
History Part of Israeli Navy
Garrison/HQ Atlit naval base

Founding Nickname(s) ‫( השייטת‬HaShayetet, The

Flotilla)
Shayetet 13 is a veteran Israeli special forces unit. It Motto(s) As the bat emerges from the
was formed in 1949 by Yohai Ben-Nun with men darkness, As the blade cuts
drawn from the ranks of the Palyam, the naval through with silence, As the
branch of the Palmach, the elite fighting force of the
grenade smashes in rage
Haganah, the ancestor of the Israel Defense Forces.
The need for such a dedicated unit was a matter of Engagements Suez Crisis
debate during the early years of the IDF, and the unit Six-Day War
subsequently suffered size and budget restrictions. War of Attrition
Upon its foundation, the existence of Shayetet 13 was Operation Spring of Youth
a state secret, and its members wore general Israeli Operation Litani
Navy insignia rather than their own unique one.[5]

1 από 14 14/10/2023, 12:21 π.μ.

Firefox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shayetet_13#External_links

Early years 1982 Lebanon War

South Lebanon conflict
Shayetet 13 commandos participated in the 1956 Operation Moses
Suez Crisis. They performed several failed First Intifada
reconnaissance missions before the war and later Second Intifada
participated in the land campaign as regular soldiers. Santorini
A plan for Shayetet 13 commandos to capture an
Noah's Ark
Egyptian Navy frigate was almost put into action.
Abu Hasan
The plan was called off because the elite unit's
2006 Lebanon War
soldiers were deemed too valuable to risk for low-
priority targets.[6] Gaza War
Francop Affair
In 1957, Shayetet 13 began to jointly train with the Gaza flotilla raid
French Marine Commandos, and as a result, Iron Law
information about its existence began to leak. Two Operation Full Disclosure
years later, the unit's soldiers were permitted to wear Operation Protective Edge
their distinctive bat insignia, and the existence of the
2019–2021 Persian Gulf crisis
unit was made public the year after that.[7][5]
Commanders
In the late 1950s, Shayetet 13 commandos carried Notable Ami Ayalon
out a series of reconnaissance missions to monitor commanders Ze'ev Almog
the deliveries of Soviet gunboats to Syria and Yoav Galant
monitor Lebanon during the 1958 Lebanon crisis. On
July 9, 1958, Shayetet 13 operatives infiltrated Beirut Insignia
harbor in Operation Yovel. They were spotted and Shoulder Tag
had to retreat, swimming back out to sea where an
Israeli Navy torpedo boat picked them up and
exchanged fire with a Lebanese patrol craft that
intervened. The Israelis were able to retreat without
any casualties.[6] In 1962, it participated in a joint
operation with the Golani Brigade against Syrian
positions in the Golan Heights in retaliation for
Syrian firing on Israeli fishermen. While the Golani
force was successful, the Shayetet 13 force failed to
complete its mission, a raid on a Syrian post in Kursi, and retreated without casualties after coming
under fire. The fiasco became known as "Operation Rabbit".

In August 1966, the unit was given the mission of retrieving the wreckage of a Syrian Air Force MiG
that had been shot down and crashed into the Sea of Galilee. Near the end of the operation, Syrian
troops opened fire, and the salvage rope attached to the aircraft was dropped. The Syrians were
later able to pick it up and drag their aircraft to safety.[6]

Six-Day War

During the 1967 Six-Day War, the unit was tasked with neutralizing enemy fleets. Shayetet 13
commandos infiltrated Port Said, but found no ships there, and during a raid into Alexandria, six
divers were captured and taken prisoner, and released in January 1968. Several other missions also
failed.[6][8]

2 από 14 14/10/2023, 12:21 π.μ.

Firefox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shayetet_13#External_links

In July 1967, Shayetet 13 commandos crossed the Suez Canal and

blew up an Egyptian rail line in two places. The operation was
carried out in retaliation for Egyptian shelling.[6]

Operation Barak was an Israeli naval mission to fly the flag in the
Suez Canal carried out in July 1967, following Egyptian artillery
attacks and firing on Israeli ships in the Suez Canal. Shayetet 13
participated in the operation. The operation was carried out in
daylight, and the Egyptians opened fire from their positions,
sinking a boat.[6]

War of Attrition

Shayetet 13 saw extensive action in the War of Attrition. It carried

out repeated commando raids in the Suez Canal area, often
assisting Sayeret Matkal. Throughout 1969 the unit carried out a Yohai Ben-Nun, Hero of Israel,
series of land-based mining, maritime patrol, and sabotage founder of the Shayetet 13, and
missions. On the night of June 21, 1969, Shayetet 13 carried out sixth commander of the Israeli
Operation Frenzy 5. After a preliminary reconnaissance mission by Navy
a Shayetet 13 team a month before, a force of commandos attacked
an Egyptian guard post after landing from the sea, killing 32
Egyptian soldiers and blowing up five buildings, with the only
Israeli casualties being two commandos slightly injured.[9]

In July 1969, the unit successfully carried out the Green Island
raid in cooperation with Sayeret Matkal. Three of the six Israeli
soldiers killed during the operation were Shayetet 13 operatives.
The Egyptians lost approximately 80 soldiers. On September 7,
1969, Shayetet 13 carried out Operation Escort, raiding the
Egyptian anchorage at Ras Sadat and destroying a pair of Egyptian
P-183 torpedo-boats. Three commandos were killed on the way
back from the mission when one of their charges detonated.
Escort, nevertheless, allowed the IDF to carry out Operation
Raviv, a highly successful 10-hour raid on Egypt's Red Sea coast.
[10][11]

During the 1970s, the unit underwent a reorganization, with more

emphasis placed on sea-to-land incursions and on effective Shayetet 13 with the symbol of
training. More issues rose with other IDF Special Forces units, the Palmach in the former
which at the time suggested that Shayetet 13 should only provide Palyam base in Caesarea, 1948
the transportation to the target and assistance in crossing water
obstacles, while leaving the surface warfare to the other IDF
Special Forces units.[8]

Operation Blanket

In 1970, in response to the persecution of Syrian Jews and their efforts to flee to Israel, the Israeli
government launched Operation Blanket to bring them to Israel. In an operation directed by the

3 από 14 14/10/2023, 12:21 π.μ.

Firefox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shayetet_13#External_links

Mossad lasting a few years, Shayetet 13 commandos and

Mossad agents made dozens of clandestine incursions into
Syria, with the participants having to resort to living
undercover in Damascus. The operation succeeded in bringing
only a few dozen young Jews to Israel.[12]

Operation Wrath of God

Shayetet 13 took part in Operation Spring of Youth in 1973, in IDF Chief of Staff Tzvi Tzur inspects
which Israeli special forces raided Beirut and killed several graduates of the Shayetet 13
members of Black September, the terrorist group which carried training course, 1963
out the Munich massacre of Israeli athletes in the Munich 1972
Summer Olympics.[13] The Shayetet 13 force that
participated in the operation landed in north Beirut and
destroyed a small Fatah explosives workshop.

Yom Kippur War

During the Yom Kippur War, Shayetet 13 commandos

infiltrated Egyptian ports numerous times, sinking five
Egyptian naval vessels and heavily damaging another. Two
Shayetet 13 operators in the Suez Canal
commandos went missing during one of the raids.[6]
area, July 1967.

Lebanon

Operation Bardas 20 took place on January 14, 1971, to neutralize a guerrilla base in Lebanon, near
Sidon, where about two dozen militants were training as frogmen. During the operation, the
commandos destroyed some of the camp's buildings, and a number of guerrillas were wounded,
including commander Abu Youssef.[6]

Shayetet 13, Unit 707, and Sayeret Tzanhanim commandos jointly raided guerrilla bases in Nahr
al-Bared and Beddawi on February 19, 1973 in Operation Bardas 54–55. During the operation,
about 40 guerrillas were killed and 60 wounded, and a Turkish military trainer was taken
prisoner.[6]

In the years following the Yom Kippur War, Shayetet 13 carried out various missions against
guerrilla boats and those who assisted them, with mediocre success. During Operation Litani in
1978, Shayetet 13 carried out ambushes, killing a senior enemy commander in one of them. From
1979 to 1981, the unit carried out 22 successful raids against guerrilla targets in Lebanon. The
successes resulted in a unit decoration.[6] In one notable raid on April 19, 1980 Shayetet 13
commandos raided the base of a guerrilla organization that according to intelligence was planning
an attack on a community in Israel, killing about 15 guerrillas, including the commander of the
would-be infiltration unit and two of its members, and two structures were destroyed. Several
commandos were wounded.[6]

During the 1982 Lebanon War, Shayetet 13 commandos participated in securing a beachhead for
an Israeli amphibious landing north of Sidon. Two teams of commandos landed, one of which

4 από 14 14/10/2023, 12:21 π.μ.

Firefox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shayetet_13#External_links

swam to the mouth of the Awali River and another which came ashore on the landing beach in
rubber dinghies. The commandos engaged in a brief battle with armed Palestinians and enabled
Israeli armor and infantry to land. The unit also carried out three raids on PLO targets in Beirut,
and carried out several other raids and ambushes during the war.[6] Shayetet 13 was also
responsible for stopping ships that were ferrying weapons out of the country to Italy, including
Yasser Arafat's personal boat.[7]

From the early 1980s the unit became increasingly involved in the Lebanon conflict, demonstrating
an excellent track record of dozens of successful operations each year and inflicting heavy losses on
Hezbollah in terms of casualties and equipment destroyed.[14]

Typical missions at the time were interdiction of guerrilla vessels, blowing up enemy headquarters
and key facilities, conducting ambushes and planting explosives on guerrilla routes.[8]

On November 25, 1988, the unit, along with other forces, conducted a raid on the Head Quarters of
PFLP-GC, with the aim of killing its leader Ahmad Jibril. However, the raid failed and an officer
was killed and several Israeli commandos were wounded. Jibril arranged a press conference at the
base, brandishing the personal weapon of the killed IDF officer. The IDF estimated that 20
guerrillas were killed in the raid, although the Palestinians only conceded eight.[15] Israeli military
analyst Ronen Bergman described the operation as an "embarrassing flop".[16]

Ansariya Ambush

On September 5, 1997, the unit suffered a major blow during a raid in Lebanon. A force of sixteen
Shayetet 13 commandos landed on Lebanon's coast, south of Sidon between the towns of Loubieh
and Ansariya. Speculation about their mission was that they were trying to assassinate a senior
Shia Muslim cleric of the Hezbollah movement. They landed in the dark early hours of that Friday
and started moving inland. The IDF said the force had been "on its way to its mission" when it was
ambushed.[17] Hezbollah and Amal commandos were lying in wait for them. The clash took place
outside a 15-km deep security zone which Israel occupied in south Lebanon. The soldiers were
ambushed after entering an orchard booby-trapped with bombs, which exploded as they
entered.[18] The commandos were knocked to the ground and came under heavy fire, killing the
force's commander, Lt. Col. Yossi Korakin almost immediately. More commandos were killed when
the firing triggered the explosives one of the commandos was carrying. Israel immediately
dispatched a rescue team in a CH-53 helicopter. A rescue force of helicopters and missile boats
arrived, joining in a battle that lasted until dawn as the rescuers evacuated the dead. Mortar shells
exploded nearby, killing a doctor in the rescue force, and shrapnel hit the CH-53, but it was able to
take off. The IDF lost twelve dead, including eleven Shayetet 13 commandos. Two Hezbollah
fighters were lightly wounded.[19]

The uncollected remains of the Israeli soldiers were returned to Israel on June 25, 1998 in a
prisoner exchange deal. After 14 years, Hezbollah revealed that they knew the position of the
commandos in advance thanks to the interception of video footage broadcast by Israeli UAVs that
were hovering over the area in the days before the mission.

Operation Moses

During the mid-1980s, Shayetet 13 played an active part in Operation Moses, which brought

5 από 14 14/10/2023, 12:21 π.μ.

Firefox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shayetet_13#External_links

thousands of Ethiopian Jews to Israel. After the Mossad had established a diving resort on the
Sudanese coast to serve a conduit for Jews fleeing Ethiopia, Shayetet 13 operatives would arrive on
dinghies at night to ferry the refugees to an Israel Navy boat waiting offshore.[20]

Tunisia 1988

On April 16, 1988, Shayetet 13 commandos, along with Sayeret Matkal and Mossad operatives, took
part in the assassination of Khalil al-Wazir at his home in Tunisia.[21]

Second Intifada

During the Second Intifada, Shayetet 13 commandos took part in ground counter terror operations
deep within the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Shayetet 13 participated in hundreds of operations
against Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, killing dozens of militants and
arresting hundreds. Shayetet 13 snipers were responsible for the assassination of Thabet Thabet, a
senior Fatah political official in Tulkarm.[22] The unit also participated in the Battle of Jenin,
during which a Shayetet 13 force extracted an Israeli reserve army unit which was pinned down
after having been ambushed and recovered the bodies of soldiers who had been killed in the
ambush. It earned high acclaim due to the successful capture of three Palestinian vessels which
attempted to smuggle in weapons: Karine A, Santorini, Abu Hasan, and Abu-Yusuf. The Karine A
incident, in particular was considered a highly difficult operation. In 2004, the unit's operations
were temporarily suspended following a complaint from B'Tselem, an Israeli human rights group,
that Shayetet 13 operatives had shot an unarmed Palestinian fighter in Jenin for no reason. An
investigation found that the commandos had good reason to assume the guerrilla was concealing a
grenade, and the unit was put back into action.[6]

In 2002 and again in 2003, Shayetet 13 won the Chief-of-Staff citation for successful counter
terrorism operations.

2006 Lebanon War

On August 5, 2006, during the 2006 Lebanon War, Shayetet 13 commandos carried out the Tyre
raid. The commandos raided an apartment block in Tyre which was allegedly housing Hezbollah
commanders. According to Israeli sources, between 6 and 10 Hezbollah fighters were killed.[23][24]
Lebanese sources claimed that one or two Hezbollah fighters, a Lebanese soldier, and at least four
civilians were killed in the operation.[25] Ten commandos were wounded in the raid, two of them
severely. The IDF admitted that the senior Hezbollah commanders who had been the primary
target of the raid had managed to escape.[26]

Syria 2008

According to the Sunday Times, Shayetet 13 snipers on a yacht were responsible for the
assassination of Syrian General Muhammad Suleiman.[27]

Operation Cast Lead

6 από 14 14/10/2023, 12:21 π.μ.

Firefox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shayetet_13#External_links

During Operation Cast Lead, which lasted from December 2008 to January 2009, Shayetet 13
commandos landed on the Gaza Strip coastline to strike Hamas targets on land.[28] They were also
reportedly involved in two Israeli airstrikes in Sudan against Iranian-supplied arms being
smuggled into the Gaza Strip. The strikes hit a 17-truck convoy carrying arms, and an Iranian arms
ship docking in Sudan.[29]

Francop Affair

On 4 November 2009, the Antiguan-flagged vessel MV Francop which had been carrying arms and
munitions from Iran to Hezbollah was successfully boarded and taken over by Shayetet 13
commandos. The commandos subsequently found the well-hidden weapons.[30][31]

Gaza flotilla operation

On May 31, 2010, Shayetet 13 took part in Operation Sea Breeze or Operation Sky Winds against a
flotilla trying to break the blockade of Gaza. The commandos, armed with non-lethal weaponry and
9mm pistols as sidearms, roped down from helicopters and boarded from speedboats, and
apprehended five ships with mostly passive resistance. Aboard the MV Mavi Marmara, the
commandos were attacked by dozens of activists armed with knives, iron bars, slingshots and
improvised weapons, and allegedly with firearms, including those seized from commandos. Three
soldiers were captured, carried below deck, and were temporarily held in a passenger hall. The
commandos initially used non-lethal force, but after this proved ineffective, they opened fire with
live ammunition and seized control of the ship. Nine activists were killed,[32] and several dozen
were wounded. Seven commandos were also wounded, two of them seriously.[33][34] International
condemnation of the action followed.[35] Subsequently, Shayetet 13 commandos boarded and
seized the aid ship MV Rachel Corrie with no resistance.

Victoria Affair

On March 15, 2011, Shayetet 13 took part in "Operation Iron Law," conducted on the high seas
against the Liberian-flagged, German-owned Victoria, a cargo vessel found to be carrying 50 tons
of weapons which intelligence reports indicated had been consigned to Hamas.[36] The Victoria
was interdicted approximately 200 nautical miles from the Israeli coast, as it traveled from Turkey
to El-Arish port in Egypt (other sources give the destination as Alexandria, Egypt).[36] According to
the Israel Defense Forces, Victoria loaded the cargo in the port of Latakia in Syria and sailed to
Mersin, Turkey.[37] The ship was intercepted by Israeli Navy Sa'ar 5-class corvettes and boarded by
commandos from Shayetet 13, without resistance.[36] The IDF has stated that the ship's crew was
unaware it was carrying weapons, as they were concealed in 39 of the 100 containers on deck
beneath bags of Syrian lentils and cotton.[36] When seized by Shayetet 13, Victoria was redirected
to the Port of Ashdod. There, further inspections were conducted and the contraband was
unloaded. Israel then announced it would release the ship and allow Victoria to continue to the
Egyptian port of Alexandria.[38]

Operation Protective Edge

During the 2014 Gaza War, code-named Operation Protective Edge, Shayetet 13 carried out

7 από 14 14/10/2023, 12:21 π.μ.

Firefox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shayetet_13#External_links

numerous missions against rocket-launching positions.[39] On July 13, Shayetet 13 commandos

raided a compound from which long-range rockets were being fired with the support of helicopters
and warships, killing three Hamas fighters while four of the commandos were lightly injured.[40]

Operation Full Disclosure

On March 5, 2014, Shayetet 13 commandos raided the ship

Klos C, an Iranian ship heading for Port Sudan from Iraq
with weapons believed to have been destined for militant
groups.

Persian Gulf crisis

Operation Full Disclosure task force, with
During the 2019–2021 Persian Gulf crisis, Shayetet 13 speedboats carrying Shayetet 13
commandos carried out attacks which damaged numerous commandos in the foreground
Iranian cargo ships carrying oil and weapons to Syria from
late 2019 to 2021 with limpet mines and other weapons.
Some of the attacks took place in the Red Sea.[41] The unit is also believed to have been behind an
attack on the MV Saviz, believed to be an Iranian intelligence ship of the Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps Navy, which was heavily damaged by a limpet mine in April 2021.[42][43]

Other operations

In 1985, a Shayetet 13 raid sank a PLO boat in Algeria. In 2012, Shayetet 13 commandos seized a
Liberian-flagged German cargo ship on suspicion that it was carrying weapons, but no weaponry
was found.[44] That same year, numerous members of Shayetet 13 were awarded citations for
covert operations in enemy territory after the unit had carried out a series of operations which
resulted in "many successes" according to the IDF.[45] In 2013, it was reported that Shayetet 13
commandos had installed espionage equipment on an island close to the Syrian city of Tartus
which enabled Israel to monitor the Russian naval presence there.[46] Many of Shayetet 13's
missions are classified, though some known or suspected activities of the unit have been revealed
by other means. In one example, Zeev Almog, the former commander of the unit, remarked that
during his time, 23 ships were raided and 7 sunk by the unit, without elaborating.[7] Retired Israeli
Navy Colonel Mike Eldar said that "Israel can arrange an operation where it sends a team from
Shayetet 13 to attach a mine to a ship, which can even be done at the port of destination or any
other way station. The [commandos] can easily swim to the ship undetected, and many such
operations have been carried out over the years against terrorists or states."[47]

Organization
Shayetet 13 has an estimated 300 personnel divided into three specialized company-sized units
(Hebrew: Pluga), these include:[48]

▪ Haposhtim (raids) unit – is the primary unit of Shayetet 13. Their missions include special
reconnaissance and direct-action missions on land, maritime counter-terrorism and hostage
rescues.

8 από 14 14/10/2023, 12:21 π.μ.

Firefox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shayetet_13#External_links

▪ Underwater unit – the offensive divers unit. Its missions

range from underwater attacks and sabotage, to
hydrographic reconnaissance, beachhead reconnaissance
and security. Not to be confused with the defensive divers
YALTAM unit.
▪ Above water unit – is similar to a Special Boat Teams and
specializes in surface attacks, sea transportation of units to
and from target areas.[49][50] Shayetet 13 operatives during
training
The unit is headquartered at Atlit naval base.

Training
The training of Shayetet 13 recruits lasts 20 months, and is
considered one of the toughest courses in the IDF. Shayetet
13 operates a summer course for teenagers about to enter
military service considering joining the unit, who have the
opportunity to get a taste of training in diving, raids,
navigation, boats, and more. Those who enlist in Shayetet
13 are put through a five-stage training process:

▪ Selection process. A selection camp to recruit for the

unit is held twice a year. All recruits must have a Shayetet 13 commandos prepare for an
Medical Profile of 97. All combatants must be male. exercise aboard a warship
Cadets undergo extensive medical tests, after which
they are put through a series of physically and mentally
grueling exercises for four days. Doctors and
psychologists are at hand to prevent burnout and
physical injury. This phase stresses psychological
toughness, and tests recruits in their ability to take and
operate under stress and fear. Few succeed in passing
this phase.
▪ Six months of basic and advanced infantry training with
the Nahal Brigade.[51]
▪ Preparation phase: this phase lasts for three months Shayetet 13 commandos in training
and consists of advanced infantry and weapons
training, parachute training, basic elements of maritime
warfare, operation of small vessels, long swims, forced marches, and demolitions.
▪ Four weeks of advanced training in combat diving. During this course, cadets learn the basics
of combat diving, and how to cope with situations such as cold, darkness, clouded water, and
how to survive high-risk underwater situations.
▪ Dedicated phase. This is the most rigorous phase of training which lasts about a year, and
most of the dropouts leave during this phase. This phase includes training in advanced diving
techniques with close-circuit systems, underwater demolition, sea-to-land incursions via diving,
ships, submarines, and parachuting into the sea. The unit's snipers also undergo six weeks of
sniper training, divided into three weeks of long-range sniper training at the IDF Sniper School,
and three weeks of short-range sniper training for hostage situations at the IDF Counter-Terror
School. Cadets then train in maritime counter-terrorism operations, such as the boarding of

9 από 14 14/10/2023, 12:21 π.μ.

Firefox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shayetet_13#External_links

vessels, oil rigs and near-coast buildings. During this phase, soldiers are divided between the
three specialized units based on their capabilities and personal interests, and train on their
future specialty.

During their training, cadets are trained in a variety of martial arts, among them Krav Maga, a
hand-to-hand combat system which is Israel's national martial art.

Toward the end of their training, Shayetet 13 recruits go through a course in enduring enemy
captivity which recruits from other special forces units and pilot cadets must also go through.
Following a surprise mock kidnapping, they are held in prison-like conditions for two weeks,
during which they subjected to threats, interrogation, and physical violence, and are forced to
perform humiliating activities.[52]

Even after their induction into active service, Shayetet 13 commandos continue to take part in
training exercises, and participate in cross-training with foreign special forces units such as the US
Navy SEALs.[49][50][53]

Equipment

Weaponry
▪ M4 carbine[54]
▪ AK-47[55]
▪ M203 grenade launcher[54] Israel Navy Gang (pig) SDV BIR-55
▪ CTAR-21 carbine by the Italian CABI Cattaneo firm

▪ X95 carbine
▪ Uzi 9mm Sub-machine gun
▪ Negev machine gun[54]
▪ SR-25 sniper rifle
▪ M24 sniper rifle
▪ Glock pistols

Other equipment A Morena-class rigid-hulled

inflatable boat
▪ Limpet mines[54]
▪ Zodiac RHIB boats[54]
▪ Morena RHIB boats
▪ Snunit fast attack craft[54]

Cancer controversy
In 2000, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Shayetet 13 veterans had an
unusually high occurrence of cancer and other serious illnesses compared to the general
population. The IDF subsequently launched a commission of inquiry. It was suspected that the

10 από 14 14/10/2023, 12:21 π.μ.

Firefox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shayetet_13#External_links

cause was due to soldiers training in the heavily polluted Kishon River, which until the early 1990s
was used by the unit for swimming and diving exercises. At the same time petrochemical facilities
in Haifa were regularly dumping toxic chemicals into the river. The commission of inquiry failed to
reach a firm conclusion and stated that it did not find statistical evidence that diving in the Kishon
River caused cancer. A compromise was subsequently reached in which some of the soldiers were
recognized as having contracted illnesses due to their military service while others were not. Over
the following years, veterans who were not recognized as well as civilian fishermen who worked in
and around the river repeatedly filed unsuccessful lawsuits against the government and the
companies responsible for the pollution.[56][17]

In December 2021, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz ordered a new investigation of the
matter. The probe found that pollution had indeed been responsible for the high rates of illness,
concluding that the soldiers' exposure to toxic chemicals in the Kishon River was so extreme as to
be "incomparable to any other case like it." As a result, the Israeli Defense Ministry decided to
recognize every veteran who had trained in the Kishon River and subsequently contracted an
illness, regardless of type, as a disabled veteran.[56]

References
1. "Shayetet 13" (https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/idf-units/shayetet-13/shayetet-13/). idf.il. 27
December 2021.
2. Mahnaimi, Uzi; Jenkins, Gareth (2010-06-06). "TimesonLine- Operation calamity" (http://www.ti
mesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article7144753.ece). The Times. London.
Retrieved 2010-06-07.
3. Booth, Robert (2010-05-31). "Israeli attack on Gaza flotilla sparks international outrage" (http
s://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/may/31/israeli-attacks-gaza-flotilla-activists). The
Guardian. London. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
4. Miller, David (2003). Illustrated Directory of Special Forces (https://books.google.com/books?id
=FMgpdulJsGgC&pg=PA60). ISBN 978-0760314197. Retrieved 2014-07-28 – via Google
Books.
5. "Israeli navy longsleeves – shayetet 13" (https://web.archive.org/web/20071218133723/http://w
ww.plugot.com/sg_product~1034~3~11.htm). Archived from the original (http://www.plugot.com
/sg_product~1034~3~11.htm) on 2007-12-18. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
6. "Shayetet 13" (http://www.zionism-israel.com/dic/Shayetet_13.htm). Zionism-israel.com.
Retrieved 2013-08-11.
7. Ronen, Moshe; Zratt, Elad (5 June 2014). "On victories and defeats: Tales from Israel's naval
commando chiefs" (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4527052,00.html). Ynetnews.
Retrieved 30 December 2016.
8. "isayeret.com – The Israeli Special Forces & Special Operations (Sayeret) Database" (http://ar
quivo.pt/wayback/20091014204555/http://www.isayeret.com/services/freecontent/article.htm).
Archived from the original (http://www.isayeret.com/services/freecontent/article.htm) on
2009-10-14. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
9. "‫( "אתר צה"ל – צבא ההגנה לישראל‬https://web.archive.org/web/20111015235836/http://www.idf.il/1
415-10812-he/Dover.aspx). www.idf.il. Archived from the original (http://www.idf.il/1415-10812-
he/Dover.aspx) on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2022.

11 από 14 14/10/2023, 12:21 π.μ.

Firefox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shayetet_13#External_links

10. "The War And The Woman" (https://web.archive.org/web/20080506233400/http://www.time.co

m/time/magazine/article/0,9171,901451,00.html). Time Magazine. September 19, 1969.
Archived from the original (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,901451,00.html)
on May 6, 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
11. Moores, Lawrence W. (December 21, 1992). "The Mounted Raid: An Overlooked Deep
Operations Capability" (https://web.archive.org/web/20121002191829/http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bi
n/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA258248&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf) (PDF). Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas: School of Advanced Military Studies, United States Army Command and General Staff
College. Archived from the original (http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA258248&Lo
cation=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf) (PDF) on October 2, 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
12. Johnson, Loch K.: Strategic Intelligence, p. 72
13. Geller, Doron. "Operation Spring of Youth" (https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/
opspring.html). Retrieved 2007-12-07.
14. "Shayetet-13 – Jewish Virtual Library" (http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Cu
lture/shayetet.html). Retrieved 30 December 2016.
15. Joel Brinkley (10 December 1988). "Israel Launches Big Land Attack On a Palestinian Base in
Lebanon" (https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/10/world/israel-launches-big-land-attack-on-a-pal
estinian-base-in-lebanon.html). New York Times. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
16. Bergman, Ronen, Rise and Kill First, The secret history of Israel's targeted assassinations,
Random house, New York, 2018, p. 350
17. "Shayetet 13: Encyclopedia II – Shayetet 13 – History" (https://web.archive.org/web/200712181
41218/http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Shayetet_13_-_History/id/2124906). Archived from
the original (http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Shayetet_13_-_History/id/2124906) on
2007-12-18. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
18. IDF encrypting drones after Hizbullah accessed footage (http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.asp
x?id=193026) By Yaakov Katz, Jerusalem Post10/27/2010 23:13
19. Blanford 2011, p. 190
20. Dvori, Nir (June 15, 2010). "25 Years of Operation Moses: Previously Unseen Footage" (http://r
eshet.ynet.co.il/‫חדשות‬/News/Domestic/EducationSociety/Article,45684.aspx) (in Hebrew).
Channel 2 News. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
21. Crenshaw, Martha: The Consequences of Counterterrorism, p. 344
22. Rees, Matt (7 January 2001). "The Work Of Assassins" (http://content.time.com/time/magazine
/article/0,9171,94047-1,00.html). Time. Retrieved 30 December 2016 – via content.time.com.
23. "Commando raid in Tyre kills senior Hezbollah operatives" (https://www.haaretz.com/1.486028
8). Haaretz.
24. Weiss, Efrat (5 August 2006). "Tyre raid 'heroic operation' " (https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/
0,7340,L-3286565,00.html). Ynetnews.
25. "Israeli commandos stage Tyre raid" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5247670.stm).
BBC. 2006-08-05. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
26. "Elite Shayetet unit often carries army's heaviest, most secretive burdens" (https://www.haaret
z.com/1.5127598). Haaretz.
27. Ahronoth, Yedioth (26 August 2010). "The long road to Syria – Israel News, Ynetnews" (http://w
ww.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3944303,00.html). Ynetnews. Ynetnews.com. Retrieved
2013-08-11.
28. "Haaretz – Israel News" (http://www.haaretz.com/). Retrieved 30 December 2016.

12 από 14 14/10/2023, 12:21 π.μ.

Firefox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shayetet_13#External_links

29. "Report: Naval commando forces involved in Sudan strike – Israel News, Ynetnews" (http://ww
w.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3699142,00.html). Ynetnews. Ynetnews.com. 1995-06-20.
Retrieved 2013-08-11.
30. "Israeli Navy Captures Arms Shipment" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8341737.stm).
BBC News. 2009-11-04. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
31. "Video of the Shayetet capturing "Francop" " (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4TwDoNppR
M). IDF Spokesperson. 2009-11-04. Archived (https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211
118/E4TwDoNppRM) from the original on 2021-11-18. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
32. Washington Post, 1-06-2010, "Israeli troops raid aid flotilla headed for Gaza, killing nine" [1] (htt
ps://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/31/AR2010053101209.html)
33. CNN Wire Staff (June 3, 2010). "Gaza aid flotilla activists arrive in Turkey" (http://www.cnn.com
/2010/WORLD/meast/06/02/gaza.raid.activists/index.html). CNN.com. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
{{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
34. Edmund Sanders (June 1, 2010). "Israel criticized over raid on Gaza flotilla" (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20100531101434/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-israel-flotilla-
20100531%2C0%2C1839736.story). Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original (http://ww
w.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-israel-flotilla-20100531,0,1839736.story) on May
31, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
35. "Olmert: Israel needs to repair ties with friendly nations after Gaza flotilla raid" (http://www.haar
etz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/olmert-israel-needs-to-repair-ties-with-friendly-nations-after-g
aza-flotilla-raid-1.293734). Haaretz. 2010-06-02. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
36. Yaakov Katz (18 March 2011). "Victoria's Secret: The inside story of an arms-laden ship" (htt
p://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=212683). The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 22 March
2011.
37. Yonat Frilling (15 March 2011). "Israeli Navy Seizes Suspected Arms Vessel" (https://web.archi
ve.org/web/20110318174213/http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/03/15/israeli-navy-seizes
-suspected-arms-vessel/). Fox News. Archived from the original (http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.
com/2011/03/15/israeli-navy-seizes-suspected-arms-vessel/) on 18 March 2011. Retrieved
22 March 2011.
38. Anshell Pfeffer and Barak Ravid (17 March 2011). "Israel to include weapons ship in UN panel
on Iran arms smuggling" (http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-to-include-weapons-
ship-in-un-panel-on-iran-arms-smuggling-1.349668). Haaretz. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
39. Zitun, Yoav (16 July 2014). "Source: IDF units operating in Gaza since op began" (http://www.y
netnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4544864,00.html). Ynetnews. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
40. ‫ מתן‬,‫ אליאור; צורי‬,‫ יואב; לוי‬,‫( זיתון‬13 July 2014). "‫ נפצעו קל‬4 ,‫ פשטה על מתחם בעזה‬13 ‫( "שייטת‬https://
www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4542405,00.html). Ynet.
41. Kingsley, Patrick; Bergman, Ronen; Fassihi, Farnaz; Schmitt, Eric (March 26, 2021). "Israel's
Shadow War With Iran Moves Out to Sea" (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/26/world/middlee
ast/israel-iran-shadow-war.html). The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
42. "‫ הקומנדו פגע בספינת ביון איראנית‬:‫( "דיווח‬http://m.kikar.co.il/389102.html). ‫( כיכר השבת‬in Hebrew). 6
April 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
43. staff, T. O. I. "Iranian vessel, said to be IRGC-linked spy ship, hit by limpet mine in Red Sea" (ht
tps://www.timesofisrael.com/reports-iranian-spy-ship-struck-by-missile-in-the-red-sea/).
www.timesofisrael.com.
44. staff, T. O. I. "Israeli naval commandos intercept suspect Liberian-flagged ship, find nothing
untoward" (https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-naval-commandos-intercept-suspect-liberian-fl
agged-ship-find-nothing-untoward/). www.timesofisrael.com.

13 από 14 14/10/2023, 12:21 π.μ.

Firefox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shayetet_13#External_links

45. "Gantz commends 'Shayetet 13' for string of covert ops" (https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/ga
ntz-fetes-shayetet-13-for-string-of-covert-ops-378232). The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com.
46. " 'Israel tracked Russian navy in Syria' " (https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-tracked-russian-n
avy-in-syria/). www.timesofisrael.com.
47. 'Israel knows the location of every ship on the globe at any given time' (https://www.israelhayo
m.com/2021/03/14/at-any-given-moment-israel-knows-the-location-of-every-ship-on-the-globe/)
48. "Israel – Navy – (S-13) Shayetet 13 / Flotilla 13" (https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/is
rael/navy-squadron13.htm). www.globalsecurity.org.
49. "Arquivo.pt" (http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091014204555/http://www.isayeret.com/services/free
content/article.htm). Archived from the original (http://www.isayeret.com/services/freecontent/ar
ticle.htm) on 2009-10-14.
50. John Pike. "Israel – Navy – (S-13) Shayetet 13 / Flotilla 13" (http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita
ry/world/israel/navy-squadron13.htm). Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
51. "‫ "השייטת‬:13 ‫( " "שייטת‬http://www.mako.co.il/pzm-units/navy/Article-61c4000917da031006.htm).
Mako.co.il. July 2011. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
52. staff, T. O. I. "Beatings, threats, humiliations: How the IDF trains soldiers for enemy captivity" (h
ttps://www.timesofisrael.com/beatings-threats-humiliations-the-idfs-secret-captive-training-progr
am/). www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
53. Yehoshua, Yossi (15 April 2014). "Silent soldiers: Inside the IDF's elite naval commando unit"
(http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4510123,00.html). Ynetnews. Retrieved
30 December 2016.
54. "Shayetet 13, Israeli Naval Commandos" (http://www.specwarnet.net/world/shayetet13.htm).
Specwarnet.net. 1946-08-21. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
55. Eric Sof, Shayetet 13: The IDF’s most elite and secretive unit (https://special-ops.org/shayetet-
13-idf-most-secretive-unit/), Spec Ops Magazine , April 12 2023
56. Gross, Judah Ari. "Defense Ministry to recognize soldiers who swam in toxic river as disabled
veterans" (https://www.timesofisrael.com/defense-ministry-to-recognize-soldiers-who-swam-in-t
oxic-river-as-disabled-veterans/). www.timesofisrael.com.

External links
▪ IDF navy draft promotion video in YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG9JkgAw8RI)
.
▪ Shayetet 13 detailed unit profile from isayeret.com (http://www.isayeret.com/content/units/navy/
shayetet/guide.shtml).

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shayetet_13&oldid=1163021120"

14 από 14 14/10/2023, 12:21 π.μ.