Israel expands naval readiness with large-scale drill to defend gas platforms, ports, regional maritime threats

The Israeli Navy has completed a large-scale exercise involving hundreds of personnel, aimed at strengthening defenses around Israel’s strategic maritime assets, including offshore natural gas platforms in the Mediterranean Sea and major ports.

The drill also simulated a range of infiltration scenarios and potential clashes with Iranian-backed groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah has repeatedly threatened to target Israel’s offshore gas infrastructure, which plays a vital role in the country’s energy supply.

The navy’s missile boat flotilla led the exercise in coordination with submarine forces, the elite Shayetet 13 naval commandos, and maritime security patrol units, as well as the Israeli Air Force, and included both offensive and defensive live-fire missions.

Most of the activity took place in the Mediterranean Sea, along Israel’s roughly 187-km(116-mile) coastline and also incorporated scenarios in the Red Sea, where Israel has a 12-km (7.5-mile) coastline and its southernmost port, Eilat. The forces trained to defend Eilat against potential attacks, including a scenario in which enemy forces attempted to infiltrate and seize Israel’s only Red Sea port.

In November 2024, Israeli naval commandos from the elite Shayetet 13 unit captured senior Hezbollah naval operative Imad Amhaz during a covert mission in Lebanon known as "Operation Behind the Back."

Middle East expert Amtazia Baram explained that the Iranian Navy trained and supplied Hezbollah with naval capabilities.

"They are trained and equipped by the Iranian Navy, known for its high professional standards. The small, fast vessels are designed for rapid raids along Israel's coastline, particularly targeting areas from Nahariya and Acre to even Haifa. Though such attacks have not yet materialized, the threat remains," Baram said at the time.

During interrogations in Israel, Amhaz Amhaz revealed that he had played a central role in a covert Hezbollah naval unit tasked with targeting Israeli naval assets.

The terrorist organization Hamas' naval unit killed 18 Israelis during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Zikim Beach near the Gaza Strip border. Israeli officials have noted that Hamas has suffered severe damage to its naval capabilities over the past two years of war. However, they stressed that the Israeli military still needs to dismantle Hamas' remaining naval capabilities, which continue to threaten Israeli civilian communities along the coast.

In addition to the threat from Hezbollah and Hamas, Israel has also faced threats from the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist militia in Yemen. The Houthi missile and drone attacks have focused on maritime trade in the Red Sea and on Israel’s southernmost town Eilat.

Israel’s aerial defense systems have intercepted the majority of incoming projectiles. However, in March 2024, a Houthi missile penetrated the defenses in Eilat, causing property damage.

The Israeli Navy has been relatively small and has received fewer resources than the Israeli Air Force. In recent years, however, Israel has increased investment in the navy to address evolving maritime security challenges.