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| The Paratrooper Commando unit [Sayeret Tsanchanim], the
reconnaissance company (PALSAR) of the Paratroopers Brigade,
is one of the elite units in the IDF. Today it is regarded as the
IDF's longest-established special forces unit aside from the
Navy's Commando unit, Shayetet 13 (Flotilla 13). The Commando
Unit has a long and fine heritage. Soldiers are chosen from
those who join the Paratroopers after undergoing a long
selection process. Soldiers selected for this unit undergo basic
training, advanced training, and are also trained in parachuting,
reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, navigation, camouflage, and
urban combat. |
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The Commando Unit was established in 1954 by Meir HarZion
from the famous Unit 101. The Commando Unit underwent a
number of organic changes and in 1956 became the independent
reconnaissance company of the Paratroopers Brigade. The Unit
has a long history of military operations including the following:
Black Arrow, Egged, Har Ga'ash, Alei Zayit, Gulliver, Lulav and
Shomron – during the period of retaliatory operations in the
1950s; the battle on the northern ridge of the Mitla Pass during
Operation Kadesh; the occupation of Rafah [Rafiach] and Qantarah
in Egypt during the Six Day War; Operation Helem in Naj Hammadi
deep inside Egypt; Tarnegol '53 and Aviv Neurim.
During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the Commando Unit penetrated
into Eastern Syria to disrupt the supply of reinforcements and
provisions entering Syria from Iraq. The Commando Unit gained
control of the new air terminal during the Entebbe Operation
in Uganda. During the Litani Operation and the First Lebanese
War, it led the paratrooper's brigade forces deep into Lebanon.
In the Hok Veseder Operation, the IDF's first significant operation
waged against the Hizballah forces, the Commando Unit gained
control of the northern part of the village, Maidon. In the Second
Lebanese War, the Commando Unit entered the village of Maroun
al-Ras and during a heroic battle against the Hizballah, managed
to kill 26 terrorists and occupy the village without sustaining
any casualties. The Company received a citation for the unit's
actions during the war.
The Paratroopers Commando Unit provided a source of manpower
and a structural basis for other elite units such as Sayeret Matkal,
Shaldag, Maglan, Meitar, Duvdevan and Egoz. Graduates of
the Paratroopers Commando Unit serve in the reconnaissance
company of the Paratroopers' Reserves Brigade.
Since its establishment, the Paratroopers Commando Unit has
been led by 42 commanders and many of them have gone on to
hold key positions of leadership and influence both within the
IDF and in the Israeli society at large. Included among the Unit's
leaders are Moshe Levi, Moshe Ya'alon (Bogie) and Shaul Mofaz
who later became Commanders in Chief of the Israel Defense
Forces; Matan Vilnai and Shaul Mofaz - are Ministers in the current
Government. Others became the commanding officers of the
different regional commands, brigade commanders, and took
on key positions within the Israeli society.
The Paratrooper Commando Unit is one of the leading counterterrorist
units in the IDF. In recent years, the unit has been
active primarily in Judea and Samaria where it has actively
thwarted terrorist attacks and arrested many known terrorists.
Recently, the Unit has seen active duty in Gaza and on the
West Bank.
Over the years, the Commando Unit has lost 81 of its
soldiers.
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