Israeli Navy elite commandos recently held a large exercise simulating a terrorist takeover of one of Israel's offshore gas rigs, the Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday. The drill, held in August aboard the Yam Thetis rig some 30 kilometers (19 miles) off the coast of Ashdod, included a complex scenario involving asymmetric underwater warfare, a terrorist attack and a hostage situation aboard the rig. A senior Israeli Navy officer who briefed the media on the drill said any security incident on an offshore rig would be "a very complex event." The navy, which leads Israel's efforts to defend its offshore assets, is scheduled to receive four new Saar 6-class missile boats in about five years, to boost its deployment around Israel's gas rigs. Pending their arrival, the navy has deployed its existing array of patrol and missile boats in the area. The Israeli Navy's standing orders are to increase deployment of its corvettes near all rigs in any security escalation, as the primary concern is that terrorists would fire rockets and advanced anti-ship missiles at the offshore facilities, which Israel considers strategic assets. The navy currently uses the Barak 1 surface-to-air missile system, a ship-borne point-defense missile system against aircraft, anti-ship missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, to defend the rigs. The Barak 8 defense system, a surface-to-air system designed to counter any type of airborne threat including aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, UAVs, cruise missiles and fighter jets, is in its final development stages. Current defense efforts also include the use of advanced radar systems. According to the Israeli Navy, these efforts are carried out in collaboration with private security companies employed by the rigs' owners. "Naturally, this sector could offer terrorists with diverse opportunities to stage attacks against the gas rigs. We have developed a unique, multidimensional approach to defending Israel's economic zone," Navy Commander Vice Adm. Ram Rothberg said. The navy's operational guidelines "include the entire spectrum of threats. We're not talking about a single scenario, but a combination of scenarios, which could be thought up by anyone, let alone a terrorist group. We are preparing for any threat," Rothberg said. Israel's exclusive economic zone spans nearly 100 nautical miles, twice the width of Israel itself.
Credit: IDF
As part of the exercise, Shayetet 13 commandos were required to stage a stealthy approach, retake the rig, free the hostages, and secure the facility, all while using very limited firepower, as gunfire could ignite the gas stored on the premises and cause the rig to explode.
Navy drill simulates terrorist attack on gas rig
Naval commandos act out scenario involving underwater warfare, hostage rescues, and minimal firearm use to avoid explosions • "We have developed a multidimensional approach to defending Israel's economic zone," says Navy Commander Vice Adm. Ram Rothberg.
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