The Battle of Sufa

IDF’s Shayetet 13 force in Sufa. Credit: ‘YNET’ FB page.

Background History

The Battle of Sufa, which occurred on October 7, 2023, was a significant military engagement as part of Hamas’ Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. The village of Sufa, which borders the Gaza Strip, became the focal point of this conflict. It housed a military outpost manned by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in the Nahal Brigade’s Reconnaissance Unit, positioned only 3 kilometers from the border with the Gaza Strip.

Initial Ground Assault

The day began with a sudden and intense assault by Hamas on Israeli targets around the Gaza Strip, starting around 6 a.m. This operation included a barrage of rocket fire and a coordinated ground and air attack. The attackers initially faced resistance from a small group of armed civilians in Sufa, followed by the overtaking of the IDF outpost. The outpost’s Golani Brigade soldiers, caught off-guard, suffered casualties and some evaded capture by hiding inside a bunker.

Assault on the Outpost

In response, Israel’s elite Shayetet 13 unit, along with reservists, was rapidly deployed to the scene from their base in Atlit. Arriving by helicopter, these naval commandos engaged in heavy combat with the Hamas militants. Despite being significantly outnumbered, they managed to regain control of the outpost. Their intervention was crucial in turning the tide of the battle.

Shayetet 13’s involvement was pivotal, not only in combat but also in rescue operations. They coordinated with other IDF troops to rescue hostages and eliminate Hamas terrorists. In the midst of heavy fighting, they successfully eliminated more than 60 terrorists and rescued about 250 hostages. The battle saw some of Israel’s bravest, including Lt.-Col. Eli Ginzburg and First Sgt. Ofek Russo, lose their lives.

Evidence from Survivors

IDF’s Or Ben Yehuda. Credit: Diana Krayin’s FB page.

Survivor accounts highlight the intense and prolonged nature of the fighting. The Nahal Reconnaissance Unit engaged the terrorists for many hours, facing a situation of being outnumbered and nearly running out of ammunition. Reinforcements, including the Karakal Regiment led by Lt. Col. Or Ben-Yehuda and Shayetet 13, played a pivotal role in clearing the outpost of terrorists and rescuing hostages. The Shayetet 13 commandos were instrumental in saving some 250 hostages, including civilians and fellow soldiers.

The Battle of Sufa is remembered as a testament to the resilience and strategic capabilities of the IDF, particularly in the face of overwhelming odds. The success of the Shayetet 13 unit in rescuing hostages and eliminating the militant threat underlines the effectiveness of Israel’s military response to sudden and intense terrorist attacks.