Two special forces from an elite unit of the Israeli Air Force, which previously had virtually no losses, were killed in the Gaza Strip.

Two members of the Israeli Air Force special forces unit were killed in the northern Gaza Strip. This was reported by the press service of the Israeli Air Force.
The deceased servicemen served in what is considered one of the most elite aviation special forces unit Unit 669 of the Israeli Air Force.
This unit is used to carry out operational evacuations of downed pilots, surrounded special forces or wounded soldiers from enemy-controlled territories. UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters are used to transport special forces groups.

During an operation in northern Gaza last night, 26-year-old team leader Ben Shelley of Unit 669 and 20-year-old special forces soldier Rom Hecht were killed. The Air Force press service does not provide details about the deaths of Israeli servicemen. They probably took part in one of the evacuation measures.

It can be assumed that the special forces had to evacuate either prisoners whose location became known to the Israeli special services, or soldiers from another unit who found themselves in a difficult situation.
Note that this special unit 669 of the Israeli Air Force for its history suffered very few losses. In 18 years of fighting in Lebanon, it lost only two fighters. Therefore, the very fact that two special forces soldiers died at once, including the group commander, indicates that the military operation in the Gaza Strip is not going very easily for the IDF, despite the optimistic and belligerent statements of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Galant and other high-ranking officials. It is possible that the losses of the Israeli army in the conflict may actually be higher than the figures officially cited by the press service of the Israeli Defense Forces.
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