Israeli Navy Chief Steps Down Amid Regional Operations and Post-Oct. 7 Assessments The head of the Israeli Navy, Vice Adm. David Saar Salama, announced his resignation on Thursday after four and a half years in command, including more than two years during the ongoing conflict. Salama, who completed 39 years of military service, handed over leadership to Vice Adm. Eyal Harel. His tenure was marked by significant operational expansion, including strikes in areas where the navy had not previously operated, as well as the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, which exposed critical vulnerabilities in Israel’s military readiness. The Oct. 7 assault, in which Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, included a maritime component where terrorists infiltrated the country by sea near Zikim, killing 17 people before being intercepted. An internal navy investigation initially concluded that forces responded swiftly to prevent a larger attack, but a broader military review later deemed the probe inadequate. This assessment highlighted systemic failures in the navy’s preparedness for such threats. Since the start of the Gaza war, Israeli naval officials have reported a severe degradation of Hamas’ maritime capabilities. Most of its naval assets have been destroyed, and many operatives in its naval units have been killed or reassigned. However, officials emphasized that the threat remains active and could be rebuilt over time. In the Lebanon theater, the Israeli Navy has played a central role in operations against Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group. During the conflict, including a major operation in October 2024, the navy conducted dozens of strikes that destroyed most of Hezbollah’s shore-to-sea missile arsenal. Israeli assessments now estimate that Hezbollah retains approximately 100 such missiles.#hezbollah #shayetet_13 #israeli_navy #david_saar_salama #eyal_harel
Israeli Special Forces Launch Covert Raids in Lebanon as Naval Operations Expand Israeli special forces, including Mossad and the elite Shayetet 13 unit, conducted a high-profile raid on Lebanon’s Naqoura, marking the first such operation in the country since 2000. The move, announced by the Israel Navy, reflects a broader shift in Israel’s military strategy following the October 7 massacre, which intensified efforts to disrupt enemy operations through covert and aggressive actions. The raid, part of a new approach by the IDF and navy, underscores the growing role of naval special forces in targeting adversaries behind enemy lines. The operation in Naqoura, described as a significant escalation, highlights the navy’s willingness to take calculated risks. In a separate mission, five Shayetet 13 commandos were deployed thousands of kilometers from Israel with no immediate support or rescue plan, according to the navy. This level of operational boldness signals a departure from traditional tactics, emphasizing the navy’s focus on high-impact, low-visibility strikes. The decision to target Naqoura, a strategic location along Lebanon’s southern coast, aligns with Israel’s broader efforts to disrupt Hezbollah’s capabilities and assert control over maritime zones. The navy’s collaboration with Mossad has reached new heights in recent years, with joint operations targeting key Iranian and Hezbollah figures. Israeli Naval Intelligence was directly involved in the killing of Iranian Navy commander Alireza Tangsiri, as well as facilitating IAF attacks against Iranian naval assets, including submarine-related sites. These operations have expanded to include direct involvement in eliminating senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force officials linked to Hezbollah.#hezbollah #mossad #israel_navy #shayetet_13 #iran_navy
