A navy investigation showed that both intelligence and operational lapses caused an Israeli warship being attacked by Lebanese Hizbollah on July 14, which killed four sailors on board, Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz reported on Thursday. | The phrase "Fat, dumb and happy" comes to mind |
The internal inquiry report indicated that Hanit, a Saar-5 vessel, did not deploy the defense system before it was hit by a Hizbollah-launched rocket off the Beirut coastline, the report said. Parts of the sailors were enjoying dinner when the rocket was launched, the report said, adding that another missile ship near the Hanit did deploy its defense system.
Formerly, navy officers acknowledged that they had not received the information that Hizbollah was capable to threaten the missile ships. It was unclear whether the navy had failed to ask the Israeli intelligence agencies of the Hizbollah's capabilities or didn't get precise answers after consulting with them, Ha'aretz said.
An IDF spokesman told Xinhua that the inquiry report was passed from Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Dan Halutz to the navy commander, and related investigation was still going on. The Israeli warship hit off the Lebanese coast is a multi- purpose, helicopter-carrying corvette of the U.S.-built Saar 5 class, one of the world's first warships to use stealth technology. |