It is not only the Houthi militants who have been attacking Israel from the south with drones. There is now a new foe in the east which almost succeeded in destroying one of Israel’s state-of-the-art corvettes at the port of Eilat in the Gulf of Aqaba with a long-range drone.  

In a harrowing incident that underscores the escalating tensions in the region, one of Israel’s Sa’ar 6 class corvettes narrowly evaded a potentially catastrophic strike by a long-range one-way attack drone launched from Iraq. 

The corvette was stationed at Eilat in the Gulf of Aqaba when the drone struck a nearby warehouse building on the pier. Video footage captured from a distance provided evidence that the Sa’ar 6 was the intended target. 

The imagery taken the morning following the attack displayed observable damage to the pier-side structure, with an older Sa’ar 4.5 ship nearby. The Israeli military also confirmed minor damage at the naval base in the city where the drone struck. 

Eilat, known for its energy infrastructure, port, and small naval base, has been recurrently targeted by Houthi drone and missile attacks. 

While previous attempts by Houthi militants to target the city with drones and missiles have been thwarted, this latest assault marks an escalation in tactics. 

If the drone had struck the Israeli warship, it would have dealt a major blow to the country since these vessels are a crucial part of its defense structure. 

The Israeli Navy’s Sa’ar 5 and Sa’ar 6 class ships can be equipped with Iron Dome air defense system launchers while at sea. These launchers protect against aerial threats such as drones and cruise missiles originating from surface vessels in the Red Sea or southern territories. 

The Sa’ar 6 class, in particular, is distinct as it is specifically designed to house Iron Dome missiles with fully integrated vertical launch system arrays, setting it apart from the Sa’ar 5 ships. 

The Sa’ar 6-class corvette group consists of four corvettes built in Germany for the Israeli Navy. They were commissioned in May 2015. Constructed through a joint venture involving German Naval Yards Holdings and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, acting as the main contractor, all four ships were completed in Germany. Three of these vessels attained full operational capability last year.

On October 16, 2023, the Israeli Navy deployed its latest ‘Sa’ar 6’ class missile corvettes, the INS Oz and INS Magen, in a decisive strike against the Hamas infrastructure. This marked the first operational use of these advanced vessels against the militant group. 

During the operation, the INS Oz and INS Magen targeted a Hamas weapons manufacturing facility, as well as combat equipment, installations, and observation posts. 

Beyond their role in direct combat operations, these navy vessels serve a crucial function in protecting vital national interests. With growing threats from drones and rockets in the region, the Israeli shipping lanes and natural gas platforms in the Mediterranean Sea are vulnerable to potential attacks.