Israel's Sixth Submarine Arrives, Sends Message to Iran

Israel's sixth submarine, INS Drakon, arrived at the naval base in Haifa on Thursday in a ceremony attended by President Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi. The arrival of the submarine, built in Germany, was marked by a strong message directed at Iran.

Defense Minister Katz stated that the submarine's arrival sends an important message to those who threaten Israel, particularly the Iranian regime. He emphasized that Israel's strategic capabilities extend "to the depths" and are not always visible. Katz asserted that Israel will continue to develop its ability to thwart threats, making it clear to adversaries that "distance does not grant immunity, not in the air, not on land, and not at sea."

Katz also addressed Iran's nuclear program, claiming Israel has thwarted it, removed an existential threat, and significantly damaged Iran's strategic capabilities. He referenced the Iranian president's recent appearance at the UN, calling his tears for Ayatollah Khomeini "crocodile tears" and vowing that Israel would not allow anyone to threaten its existence in the future.

President Herzog described the INS Drakon as a glimpse into the future of the Israeli Navy, representing innovation and expanded operational capabilities. He highlighted that this "immense power" could be deployed "thousands of kilometers" from Israel's borders if necessary. Herzog also noted the collaboration with Germany on the project, calling it a "diamond of global security engineering" and mentioning Israel's export of advanced security systems to Europe.

Concluding his remarks, Herzog stressed the importance of the human element, stating that the crew operating even the most advanced technology is ultimately what ensures victory and mission completion.