How the navy’s Haifa fleet is transforming war at sea: New details of attacks revealed – exclusive

The Israeli Navy has significantly transformed its operational capabilities, as revealed by recent disclosures. In May, the navy successfully intercepted a Turkish flotilla of approximately 80 ships attempting to breach the Gaza blockade, 800 kilometers from Israel's coast. This complex operation involved two rounds of takeovers by the Shayetet 3 missile boat fleet and Shayetet 13 navy seals, utilizing amphibious transport ships converted into mobile detention centers for 600-700 arrestees. Senior naval officials emphasized the importance of flexible command centers and sub-commander discretion for this mission, which aimed to avoid "another Mavi Marmara situation."

• Shayetet 13 has introduced new technologies, such as a stopper cable for helicopter-based commandos, allowing them to pause descent if hostile elements are detected.
• During the Gaza War, Shayetet 13 commandos were deployed in three distinct ways: for quick, targeted special missions under naval command; integrated into infantry brigades for medium-term missions; and fully integrated into multi-military-arm attack groups for several months, a significant change from the Second Lebanon War.
• The navy also demonstrated its ability to conduct sea-to-land attacks, as seen in the strike that killed Hamas finance head Ismail Barhoum in Khan Yunis. This operation highlighted the missile ships' capacity for simultaneous offensive and defensive missions, with real-time coordination between naval vessels and battalion-level ground forces.
• Senior naval officers believe a full naval blockade could economically cripple Lebanon and Syria, though this is not currently being actively considered due to the difficulty of distinguishing between government and adversarial maritime trade.