9 Israelis Rescued at Sea After Yacht Fails on Return from Cyprus

As the skies remain turbulent due to the ongoing conflict with Iran, Israelis stranded abroad have turned to the sea in desperate bids to return home. For nine citizens aboard a yacht from Cyprus, that journey nearly ended in disaster until Israeli maritime officers came to the rescue.

Among the rescued were an 80-year-old woman and a seven-year-old boy. Their yacht, battered by the sea, suffered a snapped mast, cutting off communications and propulsion just as they were nearing the Israeli coast near Haifa. The harrowing rescue comes only days after a similar incident near Lebanon's Sidon port, where 16 Israelis were saved from a disabled vessel.

“Sailing from Cyprus to Israel on a sailboat takes 24 hours a long and grueling trip for those unaccustomed to the sea,” said Chief Superintendent Ran Vered, commander of the Eastern Mediterranean sector of Israel Police’s maritime division. He emphasized the physical and psychological toll such a voyage can inflict on inexperienced sailors.

Photographer Gleb Smirnov, 34, from Holon, recounted the ordeal with raw emotion. Stranded in Cyprus due to closed airports, he joined a small group that included a friend, her child and grandmother, and several soldiers. Hoping to finally get home, they boarded a yacht but sea sickness and fatigue soon overwhelmed them.

“We vomited for about 10 hours straight,” Smirnov recalled. The skipper eventually collapsed from exhaustion, leaving Smirnov to take the helm. Just as hope appeared in the form of Israel’s coastline, the yacht’s mast gave way. With no radio and no way to call for help, the group was at the mercy of the sea until Israeli Navy and police boats arrived in the nick of time.

“The officers were incredible,” Smirnov said. “I feel like I survived the Titanic.”

Chief Superintendent Vered highlighted the dangers Israeli rescuers face daily. “The sea is an unpredictable and exposed environment there are no warning systems, no real protection, and no immediate shelter,” he said. “These rescues are extremely hazardous, but the mission requires it.”

These dramatic sea rescues are just the latest testament to Israel’s unwavering commitment to its people, no matter where they are or what the conditions. From airlifts to maritime rescues, every possible effort is being made to bring Israelis home safely.

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