PORTFOLIO | DEFENSE FORCES | SAYERET MATKAL

EXCLUSIVE:

General Staff Reconnaissance Unit 269, more commonly known as Sayeret Matkal, special reconnaissance unit (sayeret) of the General Staff (matkal), or simply "The Unit", is the prime special forces unit of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

First and foremost a field intelligence-gathering unit, conducting deep reconnaissance behind enemy lines to obtain strategic intelligence, Sayeret Matkal is also tasked with counter-terrorism and hostage rescue beyond Israel's borders. The unit is the Israeli equivalent of the U.S. Army's 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force). It is directly subordinate to the Special Operations Branch of the IDF's Directorate of Military Intelligence.