Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Rubio: 'Very short window', maybe days, for Hamas to accept deal
Al Mayadeen correspondent to southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a raid on the Ksar Zaatar neighborhood in western Nabatieh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The tower destroyed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza includes media offices, including Al Mayadeen's bureau.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City

More troops lost in Gaza than any previous war: Israeli media

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Israeli media
  • 1 Feb 2024 14:12
4 Min Read

Israeli media confirms that the elite forces of the Israeli Air Force, 'Shaldag,' have lost more fighters inside the Gaza Strip than they have in all previous wars.

  • x
  • Israeli soldiers carry the flag-draped casket of reservist Hadar Kapeluk during his funeral at Mt. Herzl military cemetery in al-Quds, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. (AP)
    Israeli soldiers carry the flag-draped casket of reservist Hadar Kapeluk during his funeral at Mt. Herzl military cemetery in al-Quds, Tuesday, January 23, 2024. (AP)

Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth disclosed that the Israeli Air Force's elite forces, known as "Shaldag," suffered more losses within the Gaza Strip than in all preceding wars combined.

The newspaper's military correspondent, Yossi Yehoshua, said  that the "Shaldag" unit, which has been fighting with the infantry forces since October 7, "lost more soldiers in this battle than it lost in all previous wars... nine of its soldiers were killed."

He pointed out that the contrast in operational methods is evident in the casualty figures, emphasizing that Unit 669's teams operate immediate rescue groups in the field, and they are deployed with all combat units. "Some of its soldiers were killed in the terrible disaster of the 13th Battalion in the Kasbah in Shujaia."

Read next: IOF announce death of a member of Yasam patrol unit on Oct. 7

The newspaper highlighted that the occupation army is incurring a significant cost in terms of losses, as well as in training. It emphasized that "training special unit fighters takes more time and money, and it is not easy to fill their places.

One of the most prominent officers in the “Shaldag” unit (the elite forces of the Air Force) in the Israeli occupation army was killed yesterday during the violent confrontations that the Palestinian Resistance is waging in northern Gaza with the invading occupation forces, according to what was revealed by the Israeli media. 

Related News

Rubio supports Gaza occupation, warns of tight window for deal

'Israel' bombs tower housing Al Mayadeen office in Gaza

This raises the number of Israeli troops announced dead yesterday to four, including two officers. Additionally, at least five Israeli soldiers were injured by the Resistance in the Gaza Strip.

560 Israeli troops killed since Oct. 7

Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli media announced that the number of Israeli troops killed since the start of the ground invasion of the Gaza Strip stood at 223, raising the number of killed troops since October 7 to 560.

According to information from the Israeli military, a total of 2,797 Israeli soldiers have been wounded since the commencement of the war on the Gaza Strip. Among them, 424 soldiers have suffered severe injuries, 726 have sustained moderate injuries, and 1,647 have experienced minor injuries.

Regarding the soldiers wounded since the initiation of the ground invasion, their count stands at 1,283, with 260 facing critical injuries, 429 having moderate injuries, and 594 having minor injuries. Furthermore, there are currently 378 soldiers undergoing treatment, with 35 in critical condition, 240 in moderate condition, and 103 in minor condition.

What is the IOF's Shaldag Unit?

The Shaldag Unit is one of the occupation military's top special units and is headquartered in the "Palmachim" Airbase, around 45 km to the north of Gaza City.

Recruits selected to undergo training for the "Shaldag Unit" are expected to have exceptional scores and abilities, and are secured to have passed the initial commando units' selection day in the recruitment process. These recruits then undergo the most extensive and longest training phase of any Israeli unit, which lasts for 22 months.

Troops of the units are equipped with six months of basic and advanced infantry training, parachuting practice, airborne practice, and intelligence gathering and reconnaissance skills.

This is done to ensure that members of the "Shaldag Unit" can complete commando missions deep within enemy lines, in which they are expected to deploy undetected into combat environments, to complete a flurry of objectives. 

  • Gaza Strip
  • Palestine
  • Shaldag Unit
  • Gaza
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
President Nicolas Maduro gestures to supporters during the inauguration of a monument in China's honor on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Maduro warns of threats, urges 'battle for truth' to defend Venezuela

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
Politics

Netanyahu informed Trump before deadly attack in Doha: Reports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hold a joint press conference at the Prime Minister's Office, during Rubio's visit, in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Monday, September 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu warns of Israeli isolation, calls to boost self-reliance

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide
Politics

Spain axes €700 mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS