(haipo) – On Sunday, 24/8/2025, the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, visited the Navy's naval base in Haifa, together with the Commander of the Navy, Major General David (Saar) Salama, the Commander of the Navy's Training Base, Lieutenant General S., and commanders in the Advanced Naval Command Course. Afterwards, he also toured the site with the Commander of the Haifa Base, Brigadier General Eliezer Sucholitsky, the Chief of Naval Staff, Brigadier General Amir Gutman, the commanders of the operational fleets, and other commanders.
During the visit, the Chief of Staff discussed the challenges of command in the maritime arena, expressed his appreciation for commanders and fighters, emphasized the commanders' responsibility in combat, and praised the Navy's achievements in the "Iron Swords" war. The visit also presented the process of drawing lessons from the "Iron Swords" war, and a display of the weapons and capabilities of the submarine fleet.
Chief of Staff, Major General Eyal Zamir, said during the visit:
"We are in a multi-scene war – at sea, in the air and on land – and at the opening of the second phase of Operation 'Gideon's Chariots'. At the same time, we are also operating thousands of kilometers beyond our borders. There are threats from every arena and in every dimension, and we must constantly act to weaken and thwart them. We met the three objectives of the operation, including deeply damaging the Hamas terrorist organization, removing threats from the border and the settlements, and as a result of military pressure, we created the conditions for the release of the hostages. The IDF continues to prepare itself to expand the operation, targeting Gaza City, and the Navy must be prepared to defend and assist the ground forces in the attack. The campaign continues and we will continue to operate until all the war's objectives are achieved, security strengthened and victory achieved."
The naval arm has been significantly strengthened
Chief of Staff Zamir added: "The naval arm was significantly strengthened during the war, and it fulfills a number of critical roles: protecting the maritime borders of the State of Israel and safeguarding its strategic assets.
The close cooperation between the Navy and the Ground Forces, through the use of powerful and precise firepower, constitutes a significant force multiplier in combat. We will continue to strengthen its capability as a long-range arm for operations in strategic depth. During the war, you carried out covert and necessary operations for the security of the country throughout the Middle East. The cunning and power you demonstrated surprised the enemy and caused him severe damage to his capabilities.
"Navy soldiers – you are the spearhead of the IDF in the maritime arena. I encourage you to continue to research, learn, and discover critical thinking. Your activities are unique, and you bring with you abilities that no one else has. I appreciate you very much, continue to perform your missions to the best of your ability."
In short – the Chief of Staff did not visit Haifa, but rather a military base. A closed area that takes away quite a bit of beach (a scarce resource) from Haifa residents.