Israeli Air Force and Naval forces took part in the daring rescue of 11 Ukrainian sailors whose ship was caught in a fierce winter storm about eight miles from the southern Israel port of Ashdod on Sunday morning.
The Moldovan ship was carrying iron to the Ashdod Port when it was caught in 65 mile-per-hour winds and 30-foot waves. The captain reported water entering the ship, and many of the sailors jumped into the sea to escape the sinking vessel.
A Taiwanese ship that was passing by also helped in the rescue operation.
Israel is currently experiencing its first winter storm of the year, though so far it has been accompanied by far more wind than rain.