Israel receives its most advanced warship as Iran tensions rise
- German-made vessel, dubbed ‘Shield’, will help protect Mediterranean gas rigs amid soaring tensions over the assassination of a top Iranian nuclear scientist
- The Saar-6 corvette and three of the same model to follow next year will bring to 15 the number of missile boats deployed by the Israeli navy
Israel received its most advanced warship on Wednesday, describing the German-made vessel, dubbed “Shield”, as a bulwark for vulnerable Mediterranean gas rigs as tensions with Tehran soar over the assassination of a top Iranian nuclear scientist.
The Saar-6 corvette that docked in Haifa port, along with three of the same model to follow next year, will bring the number of missile boats deployed by the Israeli navy to 15. The navy, while small, carries out missions as far away as the Red Sea and the Gulf.
Israel also wants to protect offshore natural gas fields close to Lebanon, an old foe with which it has held so far fruitless US-mediated maritime border talks.
“The welcome discovery of the gas fields off Israel’s shore made it necessary to create a plan that will provide a protective envelope,” Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said at ceremony at the port.
02:10
Iran vows revenge as it holds funeral for assassinated nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrinzadeh
The navy sees a threat to the gas rigs from Lebanon’s Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerillas, especially after Tehran vowed to retaliate for Friday’s killing of nuclear mastermind Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, which it blamed on Israel.