The General Staff Reconnaissance Unit, commonly known as Sayeret Matkal (Hebrew: סיירת מטכ"ל) is a special forces unit of the 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 was established in 1957, at the initiative of its first commander, Avraham Arnan. It was comprised of Palmach veterans, veterans of the Intelligence Corps, veterans of Unit 101 and the Paratroopers Brigade, as well as young kibbutzniks, and most of its capabilities and activities are considered to be extremely secret.
In the Yom Kippur War it fought mainly in Sinai and Hermon; during the First Lebanon War, the commander of the unit, Shay Avital, insisted that the unit would be an infantry unit in all aspects. During the Second Lebanon war, the unit carried out raids deep inside Lebanon; during one of these operations, Lt. Col. Emanuel Moreno fell in battle.
Image - IDF