In pouring rain and fog: The Givati ​​sniper ambush in which 10 terrorists were eliminated

December 18, 2024   

In the evening, the Sabar Battalion's sniper company takes cover under the raindrops. It arrives at the specific position that will allow for precise shooting at the target in a few hours - terrorists who are taking advantage of the fog screen to escape from the Jabaliya refugee camp, towards IDF forces operating in the area. "We had a contingency plan in case of rainy weather, in which we seize the sector from a certain point that we analyzed in advance," says Lieutenant Y., a sniper company commander in Givati's Sabar Battalion. "We knew that there was a weak point that was supposed to serve as a way for the terrorists to escape, and according to this route we positioned ourselves against them." Just two hours after the company arrived, the fighters identified terrorists by spotting them. By chance, at that very minute there was a break in the rain - so the snipers closed the circle with a flare: "We didn't want to expose ourselves, because if we fired even one bullet at such an early hour, we would 'burn' the position. "A few hours later, we had another identification with an appropriate intelligence indication, we shot and killed six terrorists, but we were not exposed," explains the commander. "An hour later, we located four terrorists in the same area, who were armed and on their way towards Gaza City, and to the defense of the rest of our forces.".

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The company's snipers managed to eliminate more than ten terrorists in an ambush, in pouring rain and complete fog, thanks to thermal means for night and rain vision - the "IMARL". A means that works based on body heat, radiation and a certain temperature that translates the heat into an understandable light image. "There is no substitute for eyes in the field," emphasizes the sniper commander. "To know when an ambush is necessary, first we study the terrain," he explains, "and with the help of ongoing contact with the brigade's sniper commanders and the forces that deployed before us in the area, we learn from each other and understand, based on intelligence, where to position ourselves and what the target is. "You need a very high level of self-discipline to go out into an ambush - that's the edge of every sniper," clarifies the company commander, "This profession is different, it is characterized by special means, a battle procedure with sensitive points and difficulty in terms of vulnerability. We are much more exposed, but nevertheless the results are very high. "Ambush is the special activity of snipers, what sets us apart," he says, "Rain, wind, and fog, no matter what - every sniper wants to take part in something like this. In the end, we have to maintain sharpness and alertness for long hours. There is no substitute for fighters who know what to do, are practiced and ready for any scenario, and for the most complex mission possible.".