Battle of Latakia

Significance

The Battle of Latakia holds a distinct place in naval history as the first engagement fought between surface-to-surface missile-equipped missile boats. Occurring on the second day of the Yom Kippur War, it demonstrated that missile boat warfare and electronic deception had entered the operational mainstream of naval combat. The engagement between Israeli and Syrian forces established a precedent for how smaller, fast missile-armed vessels could contest coastal waters, with implications that extended well beyond the immediate campaign.

Commanders (1)