Israel’s Elite Shaldag Commandos Eye Iran’s Nuclear Sites: Can 10,000-Troop Mission Succeed or Backfire?

The war between Iran and Israel has become quite destructive. All eyes are on the underground uranium enrichment site in Fordo, Islamic Republic of Iran, where it has its most advanced centrifuges. It is being said that Israel does not have bombs with which it can destroy this nuclear site by dropping bombs from aeroplanes. Fordo Nuclear Plant With about 2000 active centrifuges, the enrichment facility produces uranium enriched up to 60 per cent, which is slightly less than the 90 per cent enrichment required to make a nuclear bomb. Many reports have claimed that if the US does not help Iran to destroy the Fordo nuclear site till the end, then Israel can start this operation alone. For this, Israel is considering starting a commando operation. Fordo Nuclear Facility is located about 95 km southwest of Iran's capital, Tehran. It is built on the edge of a mountain and is about 90 metres below the ground, due to which it is almost impossible to destroy it by conducting an operation from a fighter plane. It is called Iran's impenetrable nuclear fortress. Israeli attacks have targeted many nuclear sites in Iran on 12 June and the days thereafter, but Fordo still remains impenetrable.

Israel will start a commando operation

Many reports have claimed that about 10 thousand Israeli commandos can start the operation in Iran. It has been claimed that the team of Shaldag Commando can take part in carrying out the operation. Shaldag Commando is a special force unit of the Israeli Air Force, which is considered very mysterious. But it is very deadly. 'Shaldag' means 'kingfisher' in the Hebrew language, which means fast and accurate and refers to a bird that hunts underwater. It was formed in 1974 by former pilots and special forces members of the Israel Defence Force. Its main task is to infiltrate enemy territory, prepare targets for airstrikes and gather intelligence.

The Shaldag Commando team took part in the Lebanon War in 2006, and this team often carries out attacks in Gaza. The Shaldag Commando team has played a very important role in many operations, and now it is believed that they can be sent to attack Iran's nuclear bases. Shaldag Commandos plan their operations for months through satellite imaging of the enemy area, human intelligence networks and cyber espionage. It is difficult to completely destroy Iran's underground nuclear facilities like Fordo, Natanz and Arak only with airstrikes, because these bases are built hundreds of feet deep under rocks. In such a situation, the plan could be that the Shaldag unit first infiltrates at the ground level and enters the nuclear centre and then attacks by planting explosives.

Will the Shaldag commando team succeed?

The security of Iran's nuclear bases is considered to be one of the most difficult in the world. Apart from this, Iran's domestic front is also not as unstable as it was a few years ago. Its diplomatic relations with Russia and China can also provide it technical and intelligence support. In such a situation, it will not be easy for the Shaldag team to carry out the commando operation. It can also backfire on Israel. Iran is very far from Israel, and how Israel will send its commandos to Iran and how it will carry out the operation are also questions. Therefore, the question is whether the commandos can be successful in stopping Iran's nuclear bases or not; this is an important question. There is no doubt that this team of commandos is highly trained, and they have the best Israeli technology and global intelligence access. But Iran is not Syria or Gaza. Its military strength, regional hold and diplomatic strength are very high. In such a situation, sending Shaldag commandos can be a strategic gamble for Israel.