Since then, the naval commando fighters have embarked on many secret activities at sea and on land, near and far. Here are some things that can still be said about what the men of silence have done so far.

"You were in places we didn't think we would be, we carried out actions that will never be heard of. Distant and unknown actions, for which silence is best. All of these were and are for the security of the State of Israel, so that we can sit here today as well," said the commander of the Naval Wing, Major General David Saar Salama, at the change of commander ceremony of Shayetet 13, which was held yesterday at the Atlit base.

Indeed, throughout the war, the squadron carried out many secret activities in various formats - at sea and on land, in near and far arenas, which led to significant and strategic achievements for the security of the state. Many of them are secret, not published until now.

With the outbreak of the war, the fighters and commanders were sent south and operated in several locations in the Gaza enclave - in the naval arena, Kfar Gaza, Nir Oz, Mefalsim, Saad, Be'eri and the Sufa outpost. And officially, the unit received the mission, in addition to being a naval takeover unit - to also be a land takeover unit.

Since October 7, the naval commando fighters have eliminated about 200 terrorists, and arrested about 800. They went on dozens of operations together with the maneuvering forces in the north and south and joined them, in cooperation with infantry and armor during the fighting. As part of this, they took part, together with other units in the IDF and outside it, in a number of operations to rescue and return kidnapped and missing persons: Operation "Golden Hand", "Operation Arnon", the operation to return Farhan Qadi and others.

As part of the maneuver in the Gaza Strip, Shayetet 13 operated in 8 hospitals such as "Shifaa", "Rantisi", "Kamel Adwan", "Haindonzi", "Nasser" and "Al Amal".

During the operation in "Nasser", the unit, together with forces 401, raided the UNRWA central headquarters, where a large amount of weapons and rooms in the compound that were supposed to be used to transport humanitarian aid to the Strip were found, which were cynically exploited by Hamas terrorists as terrorist infrastructure.

In southern Lebanon, as part of dozens of targeted operational activities, Shayetet 13 neutralized and destroyed Hezbollah combat complexes and weapons prior to Operation Northern Arrows, as part of the effort to disrupt the terrorist organization's capabilities and infrastructure.

"Partnership was our guiding light. We always tried to find out where we had a relative advantage and where it was right for us to help others, within and outside the branch," said the outgoing commander of Shayetet 13, Col. A. "In the past two years, I have learned about the power of the unit during its operations, and sometimes, just from its very presence."

"During this period, I tried to do everything in my power to ensure that we maximized our contribution to the campaign and to ensure that we truly did everything to return the hostages. We marched day and night. Among the waves, in the tunnels and on the streets. Together we felt. Together we fought. Together we guarded the honors of the House of Israel, together we gave modestly and proudly, what we could give."

"The work is not over," emphasized the commander of Shayetet 13, Col. R., "The challenges facing us in both near and far arenas are greater than ever.

Shayetet 13, the naval commando unit of the State of Israel, the spearhead of the IDF and the Navy, will continue to be an offensive, proactive and victorious unit in battle. Its quality is like the quality of its servants and its strength like the strength of its commanders. This is the order of the day - and we are ready for it as a unit. Both fighters and combat supporters."