US, Israel Conclude Exercise to Seize Warship in Red Sea

A flotilla of Israeli navy ships on August 10, 2021. (AFP/Getty Images)
A flotilla of Israeli navy ships on August 10, 2021. (AFP/Getty Images)
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US, Israel Conclude Exercise to Seize Warship in Red Sea

A flotilla of Israeli navy ships on August 10, 2021. (AFP/Getty Images)
A flotilla of Israeli navy ships on August 10, 2021. (AFP/Getty Images)

The Israeli Army announced on Friday that its commando unit, Shayetet 13, concluded a four-day joint maritime exercise with US naval forces.

The exercise included an operation to seize an enemy warship deep in the Red Sea.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson's Unit said in a statement that the Israeli and US navies concluded the “Noble Rose” joint exercise, which took place in the Red Sea with the participation of Israeli commandos and the US 5th Fleet and a refueling tanker.

The forces simulated various operational scenarios in the Red Sea, including the seizure of a naval vessel and the use of advanced naval equipment.

“We strengthened the scope of our operations and deepened the professional dialogue between our navies,” the spokesperson said.

The exercise is part of a series of drills and international cooperation activities that have been held recently as part of Israel’s annual training plan for 2022.

Summing up the maneuver, Commander of the Israeli Navy Vice Adm. David Saar Salama stressed that maintaining the superiority of the navy in the maritime domain is a direct contribution to Israel’s security.

"During this exercise we managed to deepen our relations with Israel's most important ally - the United States. Together we develop solutions, share knowledge, create a common language and increase our scope of activity. I am certain that the dialogue will continue to increase, and will bring about significant achievements in the future."

He noted that he was confident that Israel will continue to strengthen its dialogue with the US to realize great achievements in the future.



Harris Reiterates Support for Gaza Ceasefire as Conflict Escalates

Vice President Kamala Harris waves as she departs after speaking at the Tribal Nations Summit in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Nov. 16, 2021, in Washington. (AP)
Vice President Kamala Harris waves as she departs after speaking at the Tribal Nations Summit in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Nov. 16, 2021, in Washington. (AP)
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Harris Reiterates Support for Gaza Ceasefire as Conflict Escalates

Vice President Kamala Harris waves as she departs after speaking at the Tribal Nations Summit in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Nov. 16, 2021, in Washington. (AP)
Vice President Kamala Harris waves as she departs after speaking at the Tribal Nations Summit in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Nov. 16, 2021, in Washington. (AP)

Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said Washington will continue to pressure Israel and other players in the Middle East to reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza even as advocates say that the United States has not thus far used its leverage over its ally.

In an interview with CBS news show "60 Minutes," Harris said that diplomatic work with Israel is "an ongoing pursuit," according to a clip released on Sunday.

Harris sidestepped a question in the interview on whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was a "real close ally."

"I think with all due respect the better question is do we have an important alliance between the American people and the Israeli people and the answer to that question is yes," Harris said, Reuters reported.

Harris reiterated Washington's position to support Israel's right to self defense against Iran and Iran-backed militant groups like Palestinian Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah.

"Now the work that we do diplomatically with the leadership of Israel is an ongoing pursuit around making clear our principles," Harris said.

"We're not going to stop in terms of putting that pressure on Israel and in the region including Arab leaders," Harris said.

Washington's occasional condemnation of Israel over the war's civilian death toll has mostly been verbal with no substantive change in policy.

Advocates say Washington has not put pressure on its ally by refusing to put an arms embargo that anti-war protesters around the United States and the world have demanded for months. Protests were also held over the weekend.

President Joe Biden laid out a three-phase ceasefire plan for Gaza on May 31 but a deal between Israel and Hamas has not been reached due to gaps in exchanges of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and Israel's demand that it maintain presence in a corridor on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip bordering Egypt.

The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on Oct. 7, 2023.

Israel has also been separately carrying out a military campaign in Lebanon which in recent days has killed hundreds, wounded thousands and displaced over a million.