The very word “commando” brings to mind, or to the palpebral cinema, a multitude of Hollywood scenes. Deeds of derring-do in foreign lands with visions of determined officers (Gregory Peck? Gary Cooper?), and their men appropriately named to display the American melting pot — Rodriguez, Cohen, Endicott, and O’Houlihan — crawling in a moonless night through the underbrush toward the barracks, or the bridge, or the bomb factory, that they must blow up by knocking unconscious some, and silently killing others with bare bodkins, among the 85 sinister Nazi soldiers guarding the target. Hurray for Hollywood!
In the real world, the Israeli commandos are even more impressive than the celluloid versions we see on the big screen. The chief of the IDF, Gen. Eyal Zamir, has in a televised address just paid public tribute to their role inside Iran, where they caused magnificent mayhem, destroying missiles, airbases, rocket launchers, planes on the ground, fifteen senior nuclear scientists, and two dozen high-ranking generals in both the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and the regular army. More on General Zamir’s remarks can be found here: “IDF commandos covertly operated in Iran, Zamir reveals,” Jerusalem Post, June 25, 2025:
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir revealed that commando forces operated on the ground covertly in Iran during the war, in joint efforts with the Air Force and along with the Mossad, in a televised address Wednesday.
“We achieved full control of the Iranian skies and every location we chose to operate in. This was made possible in part thanks to the joint efforts and subterfuge of our air forces and commandos on the ground,” Zamir said.
“These forces operated covertly in the heart of enemy territory, securing operational freedom of action.”
Earlier, in an address to his Mossad agents involved in operations against Iran, Mossad head David Barnea said that the spy agency’s achievements against Iran were “unimaginable,” with public details indicating they were involved in assassinating top Iranian military chiefs, nuclear scientists, blowing up nuclear facilities, drone facilities, and ballistic missiles facilities….
Iran has previously accused the Mossad of using drones to attack the Karaj facility in June 2021, as well as other operations.
The “accusation” that the Mossad had attacked the Karaj nuclear facility in 2021 was undoubtedly correct. Having had a taste of what the Mossad agents inside Iran could do using drones, why, in the four years since that attack, did the Iranian army or the IRGC apparently do nothing to prepare for more such attacks?
IDF commandos and Mossad agents, both living dangerously in the midst of the fanatical Muslims of the Islamic Republic, knowing that if discovered they would be immediately executed — we’ll likely never learn the names of those in either group until decades hence — have performed spectacularly. The people of Israel, of the region, and of the world, owe them all a great debt. We are undoubtedly safer for what they have achieved, the details of which we do not know and need not inquire about. Be grateful that those highly intelligent and brave souls have done their duty. Truly, He who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.
ploome says
still too much information
making me sick
Hugh Fitzgerald says
I don’t think General Eyal Zamir revealed anything of value to the Iranian enemy. His words were surely vetted by the IDF censors.
gravenimage says
And a bit of rubbing Jihadists’ noses in the acheivements of Infidels–including Jews–is not a bad thing.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
The criticism is not so much of you, per se, but of Israel’s leadership – both military & civilian intel, which doesn’t embargo these details. Why can’t they just seal it for some decades, and like the Eichmann abduction, release it only for posterity when everything about it is in the rear view mirror?
somehistory says
Quit bragging. Quit boasting. Let the results you achieve speak for you.
When I was a teen ager, I went to a special school for high school dropouts (I was one). While there, we were given IQ tests and afterward I was called to an office so the head counselor could talk to me.
They told me that what I was going to be told, I couldn’t tell anyone else at the school. And then,
I was told that I had the highest score in the school.
I was a kid still, but I had to learn to keep a secret and let my life skills speak for me. But now, I can tell.
Let some time go by, you guys and wait to tell all about what you did and how you did it. We already see and hear of the results.
James Lincoln says
somehistory says,
“I was told that I had the highest score in the school.”
Actually, I am not surprised!
somehistory says
Thank you, James. I appreciate that.
gravenimage says
+1
GE says
I’m not surprised either!
ploome says
exactly
somehistory says
Thank you, Ploome
࿗Infidel࿘ says
This one isn’t to upbraid Israel for gloating. It’s to caution them about giving away methods, even if they’ve kept their sources intact. In the US, we go overboard: it’s only now that details of JFK, RFK & MLK murders are being released. We’re not suggesting that Israel go that far, but just for the duration of the war
After the Hamas & Iranian regimes are toppled, by all means do your tell-alls
somehistory says
And that’ is what I was saying… Let some time go by….wait until they don’t need to do those things again before they give the details.
Those shows which tell how crimes were solved….scrapings from fingernails, matching mitochondrial DNA from mom’s hair, DNA from plants, seeds, diatoms, etc. cause other criminals to be better able to cover their tracks.
Too much detail may help the ghouls prevent future achievements.
lisa says
Somehistory…..sometimes it is necessary to to tell what you achieved, how you achieved it. Call it bragging or boasting if you will. This was not some boy in a classroom scoring the highest grade. This was a country who believed they were Godly, that jews were evil and that THEY would be doing the world a favor by wiping Israel off the face of the earth. It is in the best interest of the world that Israel conducted themselves in a way that was truely amazing. And that Israel would do it loudly. I am proud of Israel and i am glad the world knows what Israel can and will do to protect themselves.
somehistory says
lisa, obviously, you didn’t get the point of my comment.
And you are entitled to your opinion and I won’t try to convince you that Israel doesn’t need to reveal all of how they did what they did.
gravenimage says
On IDF commandos in Iran
……………………………..
Hear, hear!
John says
The article begins as if Commandos is an American invention. The Royal Marine Commandos began in 1664 and was preceded by five other European nation’s commando units. The USMC are not commandos. The US Green Berets are an attempt to replicate Royal Marines.
The IDF commandos are special forces and being instantly killed is not what happens. Being brutally interrogated is actually what would occur if captured. No-one does it like the Israelis. Truly miraculous and remarkable military achievements. Am Israel Chi.
tgusa says
You are right John. You all have had a lot of brave commandos over time. Your best commandos were formed in July of 1941, The SAS. Our Seals are our equivalent of your SAS. Neither group talks about what they have done. Except once in awhile, occasionally, to boost morale in both military and civilian circles. A limited release of info is in beneficial. A yeah, we were there, they didn’t even know it. We had a plan, we just went about breaking everything we found and they could do nothing to stop us.
And they didn’t even know we were there.
Hearing that leads to a decrease in morale on the enemies side.
jOHN says
No the Seals are equivalent to the UK’s SBS.
Alphonse Caprice says
@Mr. Fitzgerald,
You write:
‘(…) (Gregory Peck? Gary Cooper?), and their men appropriately named to display the American melting pot — Rodriguez, Cohen, Endicott, and O’Houlihan — crawling in a moonless night through the underbrush toward the barracks, or the bridge, or the bomb factory, that they must blow up by knocking unconscious some, and silently killing others with bare bodkins, among the 85 sinister Nazi soldiers guarding the target. Hurray for Hollywood! (…)’
Now we know just about how old you are. Ooops! My own faves: ‘The heroes of Telemark’ and ‘Where Eagles Dare’. Superb movies. And ‘The heroes of Telemark’ is based on historical facts. You can’t get much better than that. ‘Lawrence of Arabia’? Hmmm… Not half bad, I dare say, but not as good, although also based on historical facts (Where Eagles Dare, on the contrary, is total fiction).
Kind regards,
Alphonse
somehistory says
Young people can know about old movies, since they play on television and computers.
gravenimage says
+1
Lisa says
I think it is a good strategy that you show your enemy that they can not trust their trusted leaders. Right? If i was Khomeni, i would be looking at every one of the people i trust with fresh eyes….who can he trust? He or his son? Can he even trust his son? Can the son trust the father? I wouldnt. I would be paranoid and wondering about everybody.