JERUSALEM (VINnews)-The Israeli Navy completed a major multi-day maritime exercise this week, involving warships, submarines, elite special forces and other IDF units, aimed at bolstering readiness to protect Israel’s territorial waters and strategic offshore assets, the military said.

The drill, which included hundreds of sailors, centered on defending Israel’s exclusive economic zone, particularly its offshore natural gas and oil rigs, which the Israel Defense Forces described as critical “strategic assets” at sea.

Participants included missile boats, corvettes, submarines and patrol vessels, along with Shayetet 13 naval commandos. The Israeli Air Force, C4I and Cyber Defense Directorate, and additional IDF branches also took part, the military said.

Troops rehearsed a range of scenarios, including repelling seaborne infiltrations, engaging enemy naval forces, countering aerial threats, conducting multi-front operations, fighting in both open waters and coastal areas, and safeguarding key infrastructure such as gas rigs, ports and other maritime facilities.

The exercise comes amid ongoing regional tensions, including threats to Israel’s energy infrastructure from hostile actors in the Mediterranean.

The IDF emphasized that the drill enhanced interoperability across branches and improved the navy’s ability to respond to potential threats in complex maritime environments. No specific dates or further operational details were released.