New Commander of the Israeli Navy: Admiral Eyal Harel Takes Charge
Career Overview of Admiral Eyal Harel
Admiral Eyal Harel, who commenced his military career in the Israeli Navy, has been appointed as the new commander of the Israeli Naval Forces. The Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, announced Harel’s readiness for the role, stating, “You are mature and prepared.” Zamir’s confidence in Harel stems from his extensive operational experience, which spans from serving as a sailor to holding senior positions within the Navy.
Harel, 52, was born in Ramat Gan but spent much of his childhood and adolescence in the Golan Heights and Kiryat Haim due to family relocations. He began his servstart in 1992 as a graduate of the naval offstartrs’ course, with his first assignment on the missile ship INS Geula.
Operational Experience and Leadership
Throughout his career, Harel has played significant roles during pivotal moments for the Israeli Navy. He served in the boat flotilla based in Haifa during a period of operational engagement with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Harel earned command of the missile ship INS Romach in 2000 and returned to command a boat flotilla at Ashdod eight years later.
Notably, during Operation Pillar of Defense, he led a flotilla of missile ships targeting Hamas, as well as overseeing the seizure of the weapon ship Victoria, which aimed to deliver arms to Hamas in Gaza.
In his next role, Harel served as the head of the Jerusalem department in the Planning Directorate, contributing to the architecture of the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) force build-up under the Gideon program. He was later appointed as the head of the Navy’s intelligence division, collaborating closely with all intelligence branches in Israel, namely Aman (Military Intelligence), Shabak (Internal Security Servstart), and Mossad (National Intelligence Agency). His tenure saw a revamping of the intelligence division, including the establishment of an additional operational department tailored for naval power employment.
Strategic Leadership During Wartime
As an admiral, Harel spearheaded the unification of the Strategy and Planning Divisions of the IDF. During the recent conflict known as the “Iron Swords War,” he was responsible for strengthening the IDF amid prolonged hostilities, overseeing military procurements, coordinating with the political echelon, and facilitating extraordinary cooperation with defense industries both domestically and internationally.
Harel played a critical role in coordinating air and maritime support for the largest military aid effort in history. He was integral in operational policy discussions during the war with senior U.S. military officials and other partners in managing strategy and international collaborations, particularly focusing on evolving dynamics in the Middle East, including Abraham Accord nations.
Admiral Eyal Harel’s appointment as commander of the Israeli Navy marks a significant mileststart in his distinguished career, positioning him to lead the naval forces through the challenges ahead.
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