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Officials: Israeli sub transits Suez Canal | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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JERUSALEM (AP) – Israeli defense officials say one of the country’s submarines crossed through Egypt’s Suez Canal as part of a training exercise.

The officials say the sub took part in war games in the Red Sea in early June, but didn’t give further details. They spoke Saturday on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

The transit through the canal was believed to be aimed as a warning to Iran — both of Israel’s military capabilities and of cooperation between Israel and Egypt against shared threats.

By using the Suez Canal, an Israeli submarine could reach Iran within several days, rather than the weeks it would take to sail around Africa.

Israeli navy owns three Dolphin-class vessels capable of carrying nuclear warheads.