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Draft:Snapir

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  • Comment: Three references out of four are from IDF itself. Please follow citation/reference rules. GreenRedFlag (talk) 19:34, 6 December 2025 (UTC)


Snapir Unit
יחידת סנפיר
Insignia of the Snapir unit
Active1977–present
Country Israel
BranchIsraeli Navy
TypeForce protection / harbour security / reconnaissance
RolePort defence, maritime patrol, vessel inspection
Garrison/HQHaifa, Ashdod, Eilat
Motto"0 to 100"

Snapir (Hebrew: סנפיר, lit. "Fin") is a combat unit of the Israeli Navy responsible for protecting the military ports and maritime borders of the State of Israel, which are vital to the country’s economy and security.

Snapir is an integrated unit in which both men and women serve together and carry out all of the unit’s missions.

The Snapir Unit is subordinate to the routine security flotillas in the various naval arenas. Its fighters operate in small teams that deploy on board Tzir'a (Defender-class boat) boats to conduct defence operations in the ports of Haifa, Ashdod and Eilat.[1]

History

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The unit, previously known as the Port Security Unit, was established in 1977 by the navy in order to reduce the burden on Shayetet 13 and to develop specialised expertise in protecting the Ports of Israel.[2] Its original role was to secure both civilian and military ports in the country as well as the navy’s bases.[2]


In the early 2000s, changes in global security following the rise of various terrorist organisations led to a reassessment of maritime defence, and the need arose to strengthen the protective envelope around Israel’s maritime borders. The chosen response was the establishment of the Snapir Unit – a dedicated formation staffed by frontline combat operators, with the mission of defending Israel’s civilian and military ports, which serve as vital lifelines for the nation’s economy and security.[3]

Subsequently, the unit was subordinated to the routine security flotillas (Flotilla 916, Flotilla 915 and Flotilla 914), replacing earlier arrangements in which it had been under YALTAM or certain operational flotillas.[2]

In 2006 the unit’s name was changed to Snapir. These changes created a shift in mindset among its fighters and marked a transition from a purely defensive unit to one that also conducts proactive and specialised routine-security missions along Israel’s maritime borders.[4]

In 2022 the unit received four enlarged Tzir’a boats of the 38-foot (11.5 m) model for service in the Eilat arena. The new model is reported to be equipped with two machine guns and a mini Typhoon system.[5]

Gaza war

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With the outbreak of the Gaza war, the unit operated in the southern arena to prevent infiltration attempts by terrorists from the sea.[6] Snapir fighters took part in eliminating dozens of terrorists from the beginning of the war, both at sea and those who reached the coastline. In October 14, 2023, a fighter of the unit, Corporal Kamai Ahiel, was killed during operational activity.[7]

Structure and Mission

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The unit is composed of motorized patrol teams that include patrol vessels and defensive divers. Although the different Snapir detachments share similarities, the character and size of each unit are determined by the arena in which it is stationed. Each arena has its own Snapir detachment with its own unique operational nature, shaped by the variety and intensity of the missions in that sector.[1]

The commander of the unit is an officer who is a graduate of the Israeli Naval Academy, a commander from Shayetet 15, or an officer who is a graduate of Shayetet 13. Fighters in the unit, male or female, are referred to as Snapir fighters, and their main duties include:

  1. Maritime security of the military ports against hostile sabotage activity from the sea, carried out using “Tzir’a” boats.[1]
  2. Security inspection of foreign commercial vessels entering Israel's shores to prevent the possible entry of hostile elements into the country.[1]
  3. Patrols along Israel’s maritime border and the coastline of the Gaza Strip, in cooperation with Shayetet 15.[4]
  4. Deterrent and preventive activity as part of routine security missions requiring the operation of small patrol boats.[1]

Equipment

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The fighters’ light weapons include the M16 and M4 rifles, the FN MAG machine gun, grenades, non‑lethal weapon systems, and additional combat equipment.[1]

During training, Snapir fighters operate and sail on “Tzara’a” boats, which are small, fast patrol vessels used for coastal security and interdiction missions.[1]

Training

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Before beginning their training, candidates undergo a naval selection process and unit‑specific conditioning. Recruits then complete Basic Training 03 at the Israeli Naval Academy, followed by three months of specialised training that includes operating rubber boats and small patrol craft, as well as counter‑terrorism training. Graduates participate in a ceremony marking their induction into the unit.[1]

During advanced training, cadets complete a variety of specialised courses, including high-speed boat handling, weapons training, field training exercise, counterterrorism courses, additional combat drills, and boarding inspections. As part of the training, cadets spend approximately two weeks embedded with a Shayetet 15 unit, joining a patrol team to practise the skills they’ve learned and to gain operational experience.[1]

Upon completion of training, fighters are awarded the “Snapir Fighter” pin and are assigned to one of the three operational bases: Haifa, Ashdod or Eilat. After about eighteen months of operational service, fighters may begin selection and training for an advanced course at the Israeli Naval Academy, preparing them for command roles on fast patrol craft. This pathway is relatively rare in the Israeli Navy, as it allows lower‑ranking sailors to command combat vessels.[1]

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  • Snapir personnel aboard a "Tzir'a"-class patrol boat during a maritime exercise.
    Snapir personnel aboard a "Tzir'a"-class patrol boat during a maritime exercise.
  • Snapir patrol boat operating in the Gulf of Eilat.
    Snapir patrol boat operating in the Gulf of Eilat.
  • Snapir instructor drills recruits aboard an inflatable boat, 2010.
    Snapir instructor drills recruits aboard an inflatable boat, 2010.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "What do Snapir warriors do". IDF. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "יחידת סנפיר – על היחידה". Adrenalin-Israel. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  3. ^ "Border and Port Security – Israel" (PDF). Israel Ministry of Defense / Border Guard (PDF). 2016. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  4. ^ a b "The Snapir Unit that Foiled Smuggling". Mako. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  5. ^ "We Joined "Snapir" – and Understood How It Became a Reconnaissance Unit". IDF. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  6. ^ "Jonathan Aviv & Galev, Snapir Fighters in Gaza War". IDF. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Petty Officer 2nd Class Kamay Achiel, 18, sailor, dancer, loved the sea". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
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Category:Israeli Navy Category:Military units and formations established in 1977 Category:Special forces of Israel Category:Reconnaissance units and formations

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