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The German-made ship, dubbed the “Shield”, has been described as a bulwark for conflict-prone Mediterranean gas rigs.
The Saar-6 corvettes anchored at Haifa port, and three of the same models following next year, will increase the number of missile boats to 15 deployed by the Israeli Navy, which, although small, is conducting missions as far as the Red Sea and the Gulf. (Read: This is the reason why Iran always threatens Israel’s Haifa)
Israel also wants to protect offshore natural gas fields close to Lebanon, a longtime foe which has held US-mediated maritime border talks so far to no avail.
“The welcome discovery of a gas field off Israel’s coast makes it necessary to come up with a plan that will provide a protective envelope,” said Israeli President Reuven Rivlin at a ship reception ceremony at a port in Haifa.
The Israeli navy saw a threat to gas rigs from Iranian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas, especially after Tehran vowed revenge for Friday’s murder of nuclear architect Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, which it blames on Israel.
“Iran is looking for ‘prestige’ targets like this one, which can be hit with few casualties, which means – they might hope – less chance of escalation,” an Israeli security official told Reuters, which was launched on Thursday (3/12/2020). The question is whether Hezbollah will strike now.
Although Hezbollah has previously threatened gas plants, it maintains that responding to Fakhrizadeh’s death rests with Iran. Beirut has urged all parties to exercise restraint. (Also read: After a nuclear scientist, now the Iranian IRGC commander has been killed by a drone)
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