[1] At the outset of hostilities, the Israeli Navy set out to destroy the naval capabilities of the Syrians, who were equipped with Soviet Komar-class and Osa-class missile boats.

But before any reinforcements could be sent, at 22:28 hours the Israelis encountered the Syrian K-123 torpedo boat which was attacked using Gabriel SSMs and sunk by 76 mm gunfire from Mivtach and Hanit.

The Israeli force turned East South Eastwards, and the helicopters climbed high so as to be detected by the shore radar at Latakia.

In the meantime, three patrolling Syrian missile boats from off Bans were vectored northwest to attack the Israeli formation of seven radar contacts (three chaff clouds and four helicopters).

The surviving Syrian Komar tried to escape, but it ran aground in shallow water and was destroyed by 76 mm cannon fire at 00:26 hours.