Israel’s naval commander delivered a pointed message Tuesday aimed squarely at Turkey and other actors seeking to challenge Israel in distant maritime arenas. The commander made clear that in the current era “there is no longer a distant front,” and that anyone attempting to operate against Israel from remote waters should know that distance will grant them no immunity.
According to the commander, the naval arm has been built to project the power of the State of Israel and the IDF even at distances of thousands of miles from the country’s shores. Addressing attempts to shift the balance of power in the Mediterranean and Red Sea, he emphasized that the IDF is closely monitoring these activities and preparing accordingly.
He made clear that the navy will not accept a reality in which Israel’s strategic interests or maritime freedom of action are under threat, declaring that forces will operate “openly and covertly, to fulfill our responsibility and mission by any means.” The remarks come against the backdrop of significant strengthening of the naval arm, including the sixth submarine INS Dragon currently making its way to Israel, alongside advancement of Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir’s “Hoshen” program and acquisition of new Reshef-class missile ships.