Israel-Hamas war: Israeli Navy 'significantly' damages Hamas' naval forces, IDF says

A missile is launched from the Sa'ar 6-class corvette during the series of live-fire tests of the naval version of its Iron Dome missile-defense system, called "C-Dome"at sea on February 21, 2022. (Photo by Israeli Ministry of Defence/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Tuesday that it has "significantly" damaged Hamas' naval capabilities.

"Since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip, the Missile Ship Flotilla and Naval Security Squadron have struck hundreds of targets and provided support to soldiers on the ground," the statement read. "Israeli Navy soldiers have eliminated terrorists, including dozens active in Hamas' naval forces."

"Most of the leaders of Hamas' naval forces, which consist of hundreds of operatives specializing in carrying out maritime attacks, have also been targeted and killed," the press release added.

The military also disclosed that it is processing four new Sa'ar 6-class corvettes and that, for the first time, "a Sa'ar 6 missile ship sailed to the Red Sea."

"This week, the INS Magen, a Sa'ar 6-class corvette, anchored in the port of Eilat for the first time, joining the Israeli Navy's operational activities," the IDF explained. "Alongside this activity, the operational processing of the fourth and final ship of the Sa'ar 6 series was completed, which took over two years – a very rapid pace for installing and adapting advanced combat s