JNS
The Navy "returned the civilian vessel to the sovereign waters of the State of Israel."
The Israeli Navy and Air Force saved two citizens whose sailboat had run into trouble near the maritime space of Lebanon on Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces announced, sharing footage of the rescue operation.
"Upon receiving the report, forces of the Navy and the Air Force were rushed to the area," the IDF tweeted. "After identifying and establishing contact with the vessel, the Navy forces began a rescue operation and returned the civilian vessel to the sovereign waters of the State of Israel."
Earlier this week, lawmakers sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with an urgent demand to cancel the natural gas and maritime border agreement between Jerusalem and Beirut.
Members of Knesset Dan Illouz (Likud) and Zvi Sukkot (Religious Zionist Party) said the agreement, which then-Prime Minister Yair Lapid signed in 2022, can no longer be maintained "following the daily attacks coming from Lebanese soil since October 7."
Iran-backed Hezbollah has attacked Israel nearly daily since Oct. 8, firing thousands of rockets, missiles and drones across the border. It has killed more than 40 people and caused widespread damage. Tens of thousands of Israelis remain internally displaced due to the violence.
On Wednesday, an IDF reservist was seriously wounded when Hezbollah and Hamas terrorists fired dozens of rockets, anti-tank missiles and suicide drones at Kibbutz Dan in the Upper Galilee.
