How ‘Israel’s SAS’ special forces rescue troops from the Gaza battlefield in just 60 seconds in death-defying missions under fire from Hamas
- Master Sergeant G is part of the secret Unit 669 that has saved hundreds
An Israeli special forces hero has told of his perilous missions in Gaza to rescue comrades under fire from Hamas.
Master Sergeant G is part of the secret Unit 669, which has rescued hundreds of soldiers on more than 500 ground and air missions since October 7.
The elite troops are trained to SAS standards, but only use their skills to evacuate the wounded in the most dangerous places imaginable. They dodge rocket fire to land in Gaza, meters away from terrorists in helicopters, and aim to get back to the plane with the victim within 60 seconds.
In other missions, they speed across the border in armed vehicles and drive into enemy fire to rescue the wounded by land.
The Mail was given exclusive access to the unit's base at Tel Nof Air Base near Rehovot, central Israel, where the 29-year-old who we can only identify as MS G talked about his incredible missions.
The secret Unit 669 has rescued hundreds of soldiers in more than 500 ground and air operations since October 7
The elite troops are trained to SAS standards, but only use their skills to evacuate the wounded in the most dangerous places imaginable
They dodge rocket fire to land in Gaza, meters away from terrorists in helicopters, and aim to get back to the plane with the victim within 60 seconds
“Our job is to rescue Israeli soldiers and civilians anytime, anywhere, by air, sea or land,” he said. “It's about rescuing Israelis where civilian rescue forces can't reach, so they bring in Israel's best and most elite rescue team.
'The unit does this every day, 24/7, all year round.
'Our motto is: 'Call on me in times of need, I will be there for you and save you.'
The troops are on standby 24 hours a day. They must be on their way to Gaza within 15 minutes of a call.
Although they are paramedics, they were trained in the ferocious martial art of Krav Maga in Israel and are among the deadliest soldiers in the world. In Gaza, Unit 669 must engage oncoming fire and fight Hamas.
“Every day we come in and out of Gaza,” said MS G. “It is very, very difficult and challenging to land in urban areas where rockets are fired during flight and landing.
'We challenge the aircraft crews as much as possible, because we want to get as close to the victim as possible.
In other missions, they rush across the border in armed vehicles and drive into enemy fire to rescue the wounded by land
The Mail was given exclusive access to the unit's base at Tel Nof airbase near Rehovot, central Israel, where the 29-year-old who we can only identify as MS G talked about his missions
Although they are paramedics, they are trained in Israel's fierce martial art, Krav Maga, and are among the deadliest soldiers in the world. In Gaza, Unit 669 must attack oncoming fire
“We'll meet our teams on the ground, we'll land and we'll be able to get multiple victims out, sometimes in less than a minute. Sometimes shots are fired a few meters away from us. You're not sure if they're our soldiers or the terrorists.'
Every year thousands sign up to join Unit 669, but only 50 pass the grueling fitness tests. They then train for 18 months, but only half finish.
MS G completed his mandatory military service with Unit 669 in 2018 and was a medical student about to get married when war broke out.
In the past three weeks he has lost three younger comrades from the unit. MS G said the survivors “cry together and then come back to base and are on call again. There will come a day at the end of the war when we can say goodbye in a proper way.'