Israel's ports in the northern city of Haifa continued to operate at normal capacity despite an escalation in hostilities with Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon and the city being subjected to rocket attacks, according to Israeli authorities on Tuesday.
Haifa, Israel's third-largest city, plays a crucial role in the country's maritime trade. On Monday, sirens blared across the city for the first time in months, following escalating border conflicts. The military's defense systems intercepted Hezbollah rockets over Haifa Bay, causing no damage. The city on Tuesday remained calm yet tense.
The government's port authority issued a statement to clarify that no alterations had been made at Israeli ports, from Eilat on the Red Sea in the far south to the major Mediterranean ports in Haifa and Ashdod. The statement also noted that vessels docking in Israel were covered by a special state-backed insurance scheme through a property tax fund.
The letter, seen by Reuters, emphasized, "Following recent events, we feel it necessary to reassure that our ports... are fully operational and functioning at full capacity." It further highlighted that "Israeli ports are regarded as the safest in the world, owing to multi-layered security, a high standard of cybersecurity at all times, and protection by the highly efficient Iron Dome, among other anti-rocket systems both on land and at sea specifically designed to safeguard our ports."
Israel's transportation ministry, which oversees shipping and port administration, provided no additional details beyond the letter, stating only that all activities were coordinated with the military's home front command. The port administration added in its letter that "The security situation is continuously assessed; any change will be communicated immediately."
