Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Navy base in Ashdod today together with Defense Minister Israel Katz. During the visit, the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister were briefed by the Navy Chief-of-Staff and the commander of the Ashdod base on the challenges in the maritime arena and the activities of the southern sector, including the security patrol squadron and landing craft unit. The Prime Minister and Defense Minister also viewed a display of defensive and offensive weaponry used to counter threats. Prime Minister Netanyahu: "I am visiting the Navy base in Ashdod today along with the Defense Minister and Navy commanders. I am deeply impressed by the power, the people, and the equipment. We know that the maritime space has essentially become an international battlefield. You see this in the Strait of Hormuz, you see it of course in Bab el-Mandeb, and our enemies want to threaten our maritime space in the Mediterranean as well as our seaports and maritime traffic. Naturally, we will not let that happen. I heard from the security establishment that they need more equipment. A sixth submarine has arrived in the country, and they want more; more vessels, and other means that I do not intend to detail here. But I will tell you one thing: In this field as well, both above and below the water, I intend for Israel to be one of the leading countries in the world in this type of warfare. We will also protect the State of Israel from the sea."