Jerusalem Post – Commanders of Israel’s elite submarine unit speak to the “Post” about the challenges they have faced in their training.

(Thanks to Alain)

Breaking Defense – Israeli defense forces have been ordered on alert in the country’s north following the breakdown of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon regarding a gas rig, the latest surprising twist that brought the dispute over the huge gas reservoirs in the Mediterranean to a potential boiling point.

Defense Post – Shipbuilder Israel Shipyards has launched its new multi-mission offshore patrol vessel (OPV) S-45 for enhanced coastal protection by the Israeli Navy.

(Thanks to Alain)

Israel Hayoum – Landing craft are used primarily to transport and tactically deploy soldiers, equipment, vehicles, and supplies from ship to shore during offensive military operations and could be deployed in case of conflict with Hezbollah.

(Thanks to Alain)

US Naval War College Review – While the U.S. military force structure pivots away from Middle Eastern security concerns toward East Asia, Russia, China, Turkey, Iran, and the Gulf monarchies are all potentially or actively hostile to Israel, or will seek more influence if the United States departs from the Middle East, or both. As Middle Eastern regional rivalries intersect increasingly with Eurasian great-power competition, the maritime element of Israeli grand strategy will grow in importance.

Defense News – Israel on Monday said it successfully tested a new naval air defense system, intercepting a series of threats in what officials called a key layer of protection against Iran and its proxies in the region.

(Thanks to Alain)

Jerusalem Post – An Israeli Navy officer will be permanently stationed in Bahrain, the first time an IDF officer is set to be stationed in an Arab state.

(Thanks to Alain)

Times of Israel – The Israeli Navy will take part in a massive American-led naval exercise, which kicked off on Monday, alongside dozens of other nations, including some with which Israel does not have formal ties.

Naval News – The Israeli Navy maintains a high level of secrecy surrounding its submarine capabilities. And the latest boat, the INS Dragon, is more secretive than most. This may be driven by new weapon capabilities, possibly including a vertical launch system.

War Zone – Concept art of the Dakar class reveals an unusually long sail, which may indicate an upgrade to Israel’s second-strike nuclear deterrent.

(Thanks to Alain)

Time.News – Again an incident of a fire outbreak on an Israeli Navy vessel – and this time inside a submarine. Maariv has learned that on Tuesday last week a submarine fire broke out during technical treatment at a base in Haifa, apparently due to a human error by one of the technical staff.

(Thanks to Alain)

BBC – In a move almost unthinkable only three years ago, Gulf Arab navies have held their first joint military exercise with Israeli warships, co-ordinated by the US Navy.

Breaking Defense – American officials have continued to press their Israeli counterparts about espionage concerns related to a Chinese-built port in Haifa, suggesting that the Israelis conduct regular inspections of heavy machinery there to ensure nothing nefarious is afoot.

Defense News – Israel has received its fourth and final Sa’ar 6 warship as the country implements a new naval doctrine aimed at bolstering defensive capabilities in its exclusive economic zone.

Middle East Monitor – The Israeli navy yesterday received the third Sa’ar 6-class warship from Germany.

(Thanks to Alain)

I24News – A large explosion on a commercial ship moored in the Syrian port of Latakia took place on Tuesday afternoon. Some media report that the targeted ship is Iranian.

(Thanks to Alain)

Israel Hayom – Iranian news portal Nournews, a mouthpiece of the ayatollah regime in Tehran, reported on Monday that an Israeli Dolphin-class submarine secretly entered the Red Sea last Wednesday, August 4, through the Suez Canal. Reports on the movements and whereabouts of Israeli submarines are typically uncommon. According to Nournews, two Israeli Navy destroyers also crossed the Suez Canal at the same time, most likely as escorts for the submarine.

(Thanks to Alain)

US Naval War College Review – The strategic-military significance of the recent discovery of extensive natural gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean works against Israel’s traditional reluctance to become a sea power. But any “turn to the sea” will require adopting a broad national and strategic mind-set in the face of cultural constraints that keep Israel tied to the land.

Naval News – Sea Breaker, a 5th generation long range, autonomous, precision-guided missile system, enabling significant attack performance against a variety of high-value maritime and land targets.

(Thanks to Alain)

Jewish Press – The Israeli Defense Force reports that they destroyed 10 unmanned autonomous Hamas submarines. Each submarine carried 50 kilos of explosives and were designed to attack Israel’s offshore gas platforms. The submarines were guided by GPS systems.

(Thanks to Alain)

War Zone – Reports, as well as video and photos from the Eastern Mediterranean, demonstrate that the Gaza conflict is rapidly expanding into the maritime domain, with Israeli missile strikes now being launched from vessels off the coast against reported Hamas targets in the self-governing Palestinian territory. At the same time, reports from both sides in the conflict confirm that Hamas militants are meanwhile launching rockets against Israeli natural gas platforms in the Mediterranean, which, in turn, are being defended by shipborne Iron Dome air defense systems, and other assets.

Reuters – A commercial vessel owned by an Israeli firm was targeted near Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates. Minor damage was caused to the vessel but no casualties.

(Thanks to Alain)

Guardian – The Iranian foreign ministry has confirmed that an Iranian cargo ship believed to be covertly deployed for military use off the coast of Yemen has been attacked, in an incident that threatens to inflame the maritime proxy war between Iran and Israel.

Defense News – France and Cyprus for the first time have joined the Israeli Navy-led Noble Dina naval exercise, which takes place annually but was canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Guardian – Israel has bombed at least a dozen ships en route to Syria during the past two years, most of which have been carrying Iranian oil.