The YAMAM ( ימ"מ ) is the elite civilian counter terrorism unit of Israel. The YAMAM has a world-wide reputation as a professional and successful counter terrorism unit and it is capable of both hostages-rescue operations as well as offensive take-over raids (for use against terrorists). Besides CT duties, YAMAM also performs SWAT duties and undercover police work.

Name and Organization

YAMAM stands for Special Police Unit (יחידת משטרה מיוחדת). In Israel it is also called "The Unit for Counter-Terror היחידה ללוחמה בטרור". YAMAM answers to MAGAV central command and belongs to the civilian Israeli police forces rather than the military. Its operators and officers are professional policemen on payroll, usually with combat experience from their military service within the IDF.

The YAMAM is self-dependent, training its own operators in all fields (such as sniping, recon, dog operating, bomb disposal, etc). As a result, YAMAM has a very rapid deployment time and high coordination between various squads (sniping squad, entry team, engagement force etc).

The YAMAM primary duties are:

1. Hostage rescue (terrorist events).
2. Hostage rescue (criminal events).
3. Counter terrorism (preventative operations).
4. SWAT duties - handling dangerous criminials.
5. Undercover police operations.
6. VIP security.

Most of the YAMAM's activity is classified and often published YAMAM operations are credited to other units. Regardless, YAMAM enjoys a high reputation among SF professionals and the Israeli public.

History

The YAMAM was established after the Maalot massacre, where military SF units failed operation ended with 21 children murdered before the terrorists were killed. Since hostages rescue in friendly territory is different than counter terror in hostile areas, it was decided to establish an elite civilian force - which develop and practice a special CQB doctrine for CT operations in friendly territory and hostages rescue. In the late 1974 YAMAM was established as a SF CT unit of MAGAV - the combat arm of the Israeli police.

Operational Record Before al-Aqsa Intifada (1974 - September 2000)

YAMAM have carried many counter-terror operations. Small part of the missions known to public are listed below:

• At March, 1988, YAMAM was to called to action after a group of 3 Palestinian terrorists hijacked a bus full of women near Dimona, in an incident know as the "Mothers Bus ". YAMAM performed a rescue operation killing all the three terrorists, but didn't manage to prevent 3 Israeli passengers from being killed.
• On March 3, 2000, YAMAM captured a terrorist group hidden in the Israeli-Arab town of Taibe with the aid of Sayeret Duvedvan and an IDF Caterpillar D9 bulldozer. In the end of the raid, 1 terrorist was arrested and 4 were killed. [1]

Operational Record During al-Aqsa Intifada (October 2000 and henceforth)

YAMAM have carried many counter-terror operations within the last 3 years of violence. The majority of them are classified. Some of the most notable are listed below:

• April 7, 2002: a combine track of SHABAK, YAMAM and the IDF lead to the capture of Case Aduwan , a Hamas terrorist who planned the Passover massacre in Netanya. Aduwan fortified himslf in a house along with 4 armed terrorists. During the raid, YAMAM snipers took out 2 terrorists and IDF forces detonated a car bomb meant to be sent into Israeli city. After 12 hours of heavy fire exchanges, an armoured IDF Caterpillar D9 demolished the house. Aduwan's body was found under the rubbles.
• YAMAM and Sayeret Matkal rescued Israeli cab-driver Eliyaho Goral, after he was kidnapped by Palestinian militants.
• June 23, 2003: YAMAM force killed Hamas head in Hebron, Abbedullah Qawasameh after the last resisted arrest (June 2003).
• December 3, 2003: YAMAM forces foiled an attempt massacre in Yokne'am school by Palestinian terrorists.
• YAMAM force killed Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian terrorist who was responsible for the slaughter of a mother and her two children in Kibbutz Metzer.
• YAMAM forces, together with IDF elite units, arrested 12 al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades terrorists, which used the shelter of a mental institute in Bethlehem to prepare a huge suicide bombing against Israel during Passover.
• July 25, 2004: YAMAM forces kill 6 Tanzim terrorists in Tul-Karem , include the local head and a linkman to Hizbullah.
• November 21, 2004: Three Fatah militants were killed in gunfight with YAMAM. One of the dead was Mohammed Rassan Sheikh , a senior Fatah militant who hid in Arafat's compound for a long time. (Haaretz)

Further reading

Israeli Special Forces:

• Sayeret
• Sayeret Matkal
• Shayetet-13

Israeli security forces:

• MAGAV.
• Israeli police.
• Israeli Defence Forces.
• SHABAK (Shin Bet).

Similar foreign counter terrorism units:

• Special forces.
• SWAT (USA).
• SAS (UK).
• GSG-9 (Germany).