Why No Mission Is Impossible Is a Must-Read Israeli Special Forces Book
No Mission Is Impossible: The Death-Defying Missions of the Israeli Special Forces by Michael Bar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal is a gripping non-fiction book that chronicles some of the most daring and secretive operations carried out by Israel’s elite military units, including Mossad, Sayeret Matkal, Shayetet 13, and other special forces.
The book dives into real-life missions like the Entebbe raid, the capture of Adolf Eichmann, and behind-the-scenes counterterrorism efforts. It gives a mix of military action, intelligence work, and personal bravery. Bar-Zohar and Mishal, both respected journalists and historians, bring a dramatic but fact-based narrative style. Each chapter focuses on a different mission, told almost like a suspenseful short story, with plenty of insight into the mindset of the commandos and the stakes involved.
Israeli Special Forces Book Details
No Mission Is Impossible is a true story of bravery, danger, and men who do not turn back. Written by Michael Bar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal, the book tells of Israel’s special forces. These are men who go behind enemy lines. They rescue hostages, stop terror, and vanish like shadows. The book covers real missions—from Entebbe to the hunt for Nazi war criminals. Each chapter is short, sharp, and full of action. It shows what it means to risk everything for a country. The writing is clear and strong. There is no fluff. Just truth, tension, and courage. Readers learn about secret units like Sayeret Matkal and Mossad. These are not made-up heroes. These are real people with real fear, real grit, and real missions. For anyone who wants to know how far some will go to protect their people, this book does not lie. It tells it straight.
About the Authors
Michael Bar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal are storytellers of war and courage. Bar-Zohar fought for Israel and later wrote about its heroes. He served in the army, worked in politics, and wrote many books about spies and soldiers. Mishal is a journalist who asked hard questions and told stories on TV. He knows how to find truth and make it simple. Together, they write with fire and facts. They do not use big words to hide the story. They let the action speak. Their book tells what brave men did when they had no choice but to act.
Israeli Special Forces Book Summary
No Mission Is Impossible: The Death-Defying Missions of the Israeli Special Forces
by Michael Bar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal
This Israeli special forces book tells real stories. Stories of men who train hard, take risks, and strike fast. This Bar Zohar book shows how Israel built its military special ops from scratch, and how they shaped Israeli military history through bold action and sharp thinking. It begins after the birth of the state, when Israel faced many enemies on all sides. From the start, they needed fighters who could think, move, and survive behind enemy lines.
Each chapter tells one true story. These special forces missions take place all over the world. One famous raid is the Entebbe rescue in Uganda. That military mission book moment showed the world what Israeli military operations could do. The book also tells how the Mossad caught Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi hiding in Argentina. He was taken in silence and brought back to face justice. These are not action movies. They are defense forces book history.
The authors show missions in Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and beyond. Readers learn about Israeli combat missions to stop terror before it happens. They learn how pilots, spies, and commandos train and act. These are military special forces who risk death to keep others safe. They blow up hidden weapons, strike enemy leaders, and rescue kidnapped civilians. The book covers many groups—Sayeret Matkal, Shayetet 13, and the Mossad. These are the best of the best. This is not just a military operations book—it is about willpower and survival.
Bar-Zohar and Mishal don’t just tell what happened. They show how the soldiers thought and felt. Many had families. Some never made it home. Others lived, but were changed forever. This is what makes it a powerful combat mission book and also a human one.
For those who love special forces operations, or want to understand Israeli military tactics, this book delivers. It’s part special forces biography, part action, part history. Readers who enjoy military mission memoirs, Israeli military books, or combat operations books will find stories that stay with them. It’s a true look into what elite fighters do when everything is on the line.
Israeli Special Forces Book Review
No Mission Is Impossible is not a book for dreamers. It is a book for readers who want the truth. It gives us the blood, the fear, the pain, and the bravery. Written by Michael Bar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal, this Israeli commando book tells of real men who trained in secret and fought with fire in their hearts. They belonged to Israel’s elite—the best of the best. These men did what others could not.
Each story is tight. No wasted words. No long speeches. You read it, and you feel the dust in your mouth. You smell the sweat. You hear the bullets fly. If you’re looking for a military special ops thrill, it’s here. But this isn’t Hollywood. It’s not a fantasy. These are special forces missions pulled from classified files, told by men who studied every step. The authors know what happened, and they tell it in simple, clear words. It reads fast but stays with you.
This Israeli military memoir pulls us into raids, rescues, and revenge. One mission takes you to Entebbe, Uganda. A plane was hijacked. Hostages were trapped. The commandos had one shot. They flew low, landed in the dark, and attacked. They saved nearly everyone. One Israeli officer—Yonatan Netanyahu—died. He was brave. His story leads the chapter and haunts the pages. That is how this military mission story works: it gives the facts, then leaves you thinking.
Another story tells how Mossad agents tracked down Adolf Eichmann. The Nazi had vanished after the war. They found him in Argentina. The plan was simple but hard. Watch, wait, strike. They took him at night and flew him back to Israel. That is Israeli commando operations at their core—silent, deadly, and done with no trace. The authors don’t try to glorify it. They just lay it bare. That’s what makes it one of the best military mission books I’ve read.
This defense operations book also tells of missions in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Iran. These pages show how the Israeli defense forces adapt. They think fast. They move quicker. When others freeze, they act. Each military raid book chapter offers something new—ambushes, sabotage, extractions. It’s a crash course in Israeli military tactics and strategy. Young readers will learn how brains matter just as much as bullets.
But this isn’t just about action. The book has heart. It shows fear. It shows regret. It tells how fighters miss home and feel doubt. That’s what makes it more than just another special operations book. It’s not cold facts—it’s real lives. Bar-Zohar and Mishal remind us that these heroes were human. They had flaws. They got scared. But they still went forward. That’s the lesson in all great military mission history—courage doesn’t mean you feel nothing. It means you go anyway.
The writing itself is easy to follow. It doesn’t talk down to you. It just tells the story. There are no long chapters. Each mission stands alone. That makes it a good pick for teens, students, and any reader who wants to understand how special forces history was written, one battle at a time. If you’re building a library of Israeli military books or combat mission books, this one belongs on the shelf.
What I liked most? The honesty. The authors don’t hide mistakes. Some missions failed. Some got messy. That’s war. They also don’t paint Israel as perfect. They show that tough choices were made. But they also explain why. In a land where survival is not promised, sometimes the only answer is action. This is what makes it a standout military operations book—it shows the why, not just the what.
In the end, No Mission Is Impossible earns its place among the top special forces missions books. It’s a window into a world few ever see. A world of shadows, silence, and speed. Where each move counts. Where every mission can make history—or end a life. For readers interested in military special forces, Israeli military elite, or just great military mission memoirs, this book offers more than thrills. It offers truth. And truth, as this book shows, is never soft.
Final Thought:
This is more than a combat operations book. It’s a tribute to men who did the hard things so others could live. If you like action, history, and heart, read it. If you want to know what real courage looks like, this Israeli military memoir will show you.
Here are 5 related books to No Mission Is Impossible:
- The Operator: Firing the Shots That Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior by Robert O’Neill
This memoir by the Navy SEAL who shot Osama bin Laden gives an inside look at the military special ops world. O’Neill recounts his intense training, dangerous missions, and the pivotal moment when he killed the world’s most wanted terrorist. It’s a raw, honest look at what it takes to be a special forces operator. - The Red Circle: My Life in the Navy SEAL Sniper Corps and How I Trained America’s Deadliest Marksmen by Brandon Webb
This book delves into the training and missions of the Navy SEAL snipers, offering insights into special forces operations and the mental and physical toughness required for combat. Webb shares his experiences, leadership lessons, and how he shaped the next generation of elite snipers. - Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War by Mark Bowden
This gripping book tells the story of the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, where U.S. forces faced fierce resistance from Somali militia. It’s a detailed account of the military special forces in action, focusing on the bravery and mistakes made during a military mission gone wrong. The book dives deep into combat operations and what it means to survive in war. - Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations by Ronen Bergman
This Israeli military book reveals the history of Israel’s covert assassination program. Based on hundreds of interviews and classified documents, it explores the moral complexity and strategic depth behind Israeli defense operations and special forces missions carried out by Mossad and the IDF. - The Black Banners: The Inside Story of 9/11 and the War Against al-Qaeda by Ali H. Soufan
This book takes a deep dive into the military operations and intelligence efforts that led up to the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent war on terror. Written by a former FBI agent, it reveals behind-the-scenes special forces missions and intelligence operations, offering a unique perspective on the fight against al-Qaeda.
These books provide varied but related insights into special forces operations, military tactics, and real-life missions.
My Goodreads Review:
No Mission Is Impossible: The death-defying missions of the Israeli Special Forces
by Michael Bar-ZoharMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is a fascinating dive into some of the most daring operations by Israel’s elite forces. It’s gripping, especially if you enjoy military history and stories about real-life espionage. Some parts feel almost like an action movie, but it’s even more incredible knowing these missions actually happened.
View all my reviews
