The Israeli Navy on Thursday disclosed that its Shayetet 13 commando unit conducted an unprecedented operation during the multifront war of recent years, at a location “thousands of kilometers” from Israel, in an area where it has never operated before.
The naval commandos carried out the operation without any backup or ability to extract them if it went awry, a military official said, because of the distance from Israel.
No further details were given on the nature of the commando operation, including exactly when or where it was conducted, though the official said it was successful.
Additionally, the Navy disclosed that as part of the recent war with Iran, a submarine operated at the farthest-ever distance from Israel in the history of the submarine fleet.
Submarines were deployed at three arenas simultaneously during the war, with thousands of kilometers between them, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
Additionally, during the war, the Navy was involved in some 40 “aerial threat incidents,” shooting down several dozen drones, from both Iran and Lebanon, the IDF said.
The Navy, with its warships, conducted 53 strikes in Lebanon and six in the Gaza Strip amid the war with Iran. And the Naval Intelligence Division provided information and planning for some 95 airstrikes in Iran, according to the military.
The information was published by the IDF as Vice Adm. Eyal Harel took over the Navy from Vice Adm. David Saar Salama, who was retiring from the military after four and a half years in the role and 39 years of service.
A handover ceremony was held on Thursday evening at the Atlit naval base near Haifa.
Speaking at the ceremony, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said that the military’s new multi-year plan includes a decision, “out of an operational necessity, to expand the Israeli Navy and enhance its ability to operate with greater lethality, at greater depths and longer ranges, recognizing its long-range, lethal, and decisive capabilities, both overt and covert.”
Harel, upon entering the role, said that “the Navy’s vessels and our fighters will strike our enemies wherever they are, or from wherever they threaten the citizens of Israel, freedom of navigation, and our strategic assets at sea.”
“We will strengthen and employ our power in offense together with the branches of the IDF. We will fulfill our designation as a strategic arm of the IDF, operating in nearby, deep, and distant arenas around the world, all stemming from a fundamental fact: No place is too far for the Navy,” he said.
New submarines, corvettes expected in coming years
The Navy’s sixth submarine, INS “Drakon” — or Dragon — is expected to be delivered to Israel this summer, according to the military.
The military said that the INS Drakon, a Dolphin 2-class submarine, recently completed critical tests at the Kiel shipyard in Germany.
Additionally, starting in the early 2030s, the Navy will begin receiving the first of three new Dakar-class submarines to replace the three aging first-generation Dolphin-class vessels, which have been in service since around 2000.
Also in the next three to four years, the Navy is set to receive the first of five Reshef-class corvettes, which are due to replace the aging Sa’ar 4.5-class missile boats, set to be retired after four decades.
Source:
www.timesofisrael.com
