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| The Maglan special forces unit found explosives two steps away from a baby's bed |
Maglan (Hebrew: מגלן. Also known as Unit 212 or Sayeret Maglan) is an Israeli Special Forces unit which specializes in operating behind enemy lines and deep in enemy territory using advanced technologies and weaponry.Either the IDF censors are slipping or Hamas is being sent a message.
The unit's name is derived from the Ibis bird (In Hebrew: Maglan).
The IDF keeps the unit's designated missions a secret and gives no information about it or the operations in which the unit takes part. Maglan has existed since 1986 but became publicly known only in 2006. Very little is known about the unit, only that the force performs top secret operations behind enemy lines, deep within hostile territory. Like Sayeret Matkal, although the operators in the unit wear a red beret and brown combat boots and conduct basic training at one of the paratroopers' bases, they are not part of the Paratroop Brigade. Maglan has a 20 months training program (6 months basic training and 14 months specialized combat education), and many of the candidates drop out due to the harsh nature of the program. The training program is known to be one of the toughest in the IDF. Similarly to Sayeret Matkal, Maglan answers to the IDF's General Staff and not to one of its regional commands.
Maglan is a relatively new unit. It is rumored that it was deployed on covert SCUD hunting missions in Iraq during the First Gulf War in 1991.
During the Second Lebanon War, the unit took part in many operations and achieved great success. During Operation Beach-Boys, the unit operated along the western coastal strip ofLebanon and destroyed 150 targets, among them 40 rocket launchers.
The IDF has a unit running around Gaza undetected and getting the job done. What has me scratching my head is how these guys are avoiding being engaged in endless firefights.
Are they another one of those units that dress up as Hamas and wander around without being observed? I've heard that they have units that are filled with Arab looking and speaking Israelis that specialize in just that sort of thing but I always imagined it was bluster. Now? I'm not so sure.
Even more interesting is that this unit reports directly to the General Staff and not a regional command. That makes it a truly special unit (I'm seriously beginning to wonder how the Israeli's designate special ops units...the Golani Brigade are fighting like world champs but they're considered an elite but not special ops outfit). I'll be watching for more news on the Sayeret Maglan.
Okay, the whole Special Operations thing gets confusing partly because the IDF units aren't organized quite like the US and other countries.
ReplyDeleteFirst, let's talk infantry. You have the basic four brigades: Paratroops, Golani, Givati, and Nahal. There are others, but these are the 'big four'. Israeli recruits start their service immediately in whatever unit they will serve in, in most cases. Paratroops were always that somewhat more specialized soldiers (they grew out of the old Unit 101 which was pretty special for its time), while Golani was their main competition but considered more the 'brute force' guys. The youngsters tell me that the gaps are evening out these days between the units. So Golani, for instance, while top notch infantry and truly fierce warriors, is not special ops. Even the sayeret of Golani is not, technically, special ops the way it is understood in many countries. Or, you could think of the infantry reconnaissance battalions as the first tier of Israeli special ops.
Each infantry brigade (and some others, now) has a 'sayeret'. The word means 'patrol' and was used to originally denote reconnaissance. They have advanced, small team capabilities, but they aren't truly 'special ops'. There are sayarot serving other units as well, such as armor, engineering, and now even artillery. I did my last reserve years in a 'plugat siyur/reconnaissance company' serving an armor unit. Nothing special ops about us, though we had special tasks for our brigade.
Then you have true special ops. In Israel they were also always called sayarot, or simply yehida muvheret/choice unit. The daddy of them all is Sayeret Matkal. Matkal is an acronym that stands for General Staff. So, they are the General Staff Patrol Unit. A vague, intentionally bland name; but it does show that they are the original small, special unit to answer directly to the IDF General Staff and Chief of Staff. Today, there are a number of other such units. You of course know about Shayetet/Flotilla 13, the Navy commandos. Maglan is another, which has been known about for quite some time, though as noted their job description is vague to the public. 669, the Black Cat squadron, is the Air Force CSAR unit (the guys who turned me down as a reservist). The Mistaarvim (literally 'Arab Imitators') became Duvdevan. Shaldag is the Air Force deep penetration targeting and combat control unit. Some of the special ops units like Duvdevan and Alipinists (serving on the top of Mt. Hermon) have a slightly murky status because they are regularly assigned to a specific geographical area and therefore operate under the attached command of the regional command.
A last note for now. Many people mistakenly use the term 'special forces' for these Israeli units, instead of 'special operations'. As you know, Special Forces in the US is a specific unit with quite unique skill sets and missions ('nation building') as their job definition. Special operations is a more inclusive term which correctly defines all the IDF units that fit under it; as it also is an umbrella for multiple US units like PJs, MARSOC, SEALs, Rangers, etc.
very nice explanation.
Deletebut riddle me this. why does the Golani Brigade, i forgot the name but some Special Ops Engineer outfit and the Armored Core seem to be the ones doing all the heavy lifting in this campaign? i've seen a bit of the paratroopers but not many others. what gives with the order of battle.
Well, there have been KIAs and wounded from all four of the major infantry brigades. Israeli news has shown Givati as pretty busy in there. Also, as I mentioned earlier there has always been a competition between Golani and Paratroopers for the critical and prestigious ops. Golani used to get the dirty jobs like the USMC was known for.
DeleteThat was interesting! thanks for that post!
Deletelearn something new everyday.
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DeleteThis is somewhat informative, I think: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_Special_Forces_Units
ReplyDeletePerhaps just a ruse to get Hamas to chase it's own tail? Seems a great way to sow distrust within the ranks of an unprofessional foe. -LP
ReplyDeletei'm still wrapping my head around the fact that they have units that speak arabic well enough and can look like them well enough to remain undetected behind enemy lines.
Deleteruse or not this is a concept that harkens back to the tactics of German troops that impersonated Allied forces and Soviets that trained to infiltrate allied lines, don US uniforms and create havoc.
You forget that much of the world Jewish population, and specifically about 50% of the Israeli Jewish population is Jews from Arab countries or their descendants. Many Israelis speak Arabic just because the country is in that neighborhood, as well.
Delete"can look like them well enough"
ReplyDeleteI hate to reference Wikipedia but come on,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_people
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semitic_people
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Israel
Would you be surprised if the US Army could field a unit that look Mexican? No. Arabic and Palestinian culture is a broader part of Israeli society than Spanish and Latino culture is part of US culture. You need to understand that to understand the conflict. Remember the sponsors of Palestinian terrorism lie far without the Levant.
"What has me scratching my head is how these guys are avoiding being engaged in endless firefights."
ReplyDeleteIts called "plainclothes". No different than what DEVGRU or "the Unit" or the 22 SAS does. The difference perhaps is that these operators can speak the language fluently and look fairly similar in ethnicity to their enemy.
Officers in Selous Scouts would sometimes black their faces. Obviously they would let their men go forward when in encounters with civilians and was more camouflage than disguise. Just goes to show how much you can get away with in these situations.
Delete