(IDF) With ISIS affiliated fighters in the Egyptian Sinai near Eilat, the Israeli Navy has exercised a scenario in which ISIS fighters takeover an Israeli ship – the exercise included Israel naval combat soldiers, missile ships and the Shayetet 13 Naval Commandos, who were responsible for the extraction of hostages aboard the hijacked ship.
The threat of ISIS in the Sinai has increased over the past year, this is evidenced by the recent downing of an Egyptian civilian aircraft in the Sinai Desert. In order to combat this threat, the Israeli Navy’s response must be rapid and in complete coordination with the police and Megan David Adom in Eilat in the event of an incident.
Major exercises of this sort take place a few times a year, each exercise prepares the navy for operations in a different maritime theater. Previously they have trained for operations in Israel’s north, preparing for the threat of Hezbollah as well as off the cost of Gaza.