In December 1969, Israel pulled off one of the most daring naval operations of the Cold War: The Cherbourg Operation.
Five missile boats, trapped in France under an arms embargo, were smuggled out in a storm on Christmas night.
Disguises, secret negotiations, and a midnight escape at sea — this mission shocked the world and changed naval warfare forever.
In this video, we uncover:
⚓ Why France turned its back on Israel after years of alliance
⚓ How Mossad and Israeli Navy officers created a fake company, Starboat Inc.
⚓ The Christmas Eve escape through storms, patrols, and the Strait of Gibraltar
⚓ How these “stolen” boats became the backbone of Israel’s Navy in the Yom Kippur War
The Cherbourg Operation wasn’t just an escape — it was a nation’s silent declaration of survival.
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This channel creates educational and documentary-style content based on historical events. Footage and images are used under license, or for fair use purposes such as commentary, research, and analysis.
🎶 Licensed music used in this video:
Track: New Day Logo
Composer: Chris Haigh
Track: Battle Forever
Composer: Tenacious Orchestra
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:45 Allies Betray
05:50 Starboat Inc.
18:19 Voyage Home
24:56 Gabriel Strike
#Israel #Navy #MilitaryHistory #CherbourgOperation #ColdWar
#MilitaryHistory #CovertOperations #Espionage #Warfare #Documentary

36 Comments
What do you think about Israel’s daring escape with the Cherbourg boats? 🚢⚡
Should this operation be remembered as one of the boldest naval missions in history?
Share your thoughts below 👇 and don’t forget to like & subscribe for more untold war stories!
It's the collaboration between Israel and France .. it's makeup movie made by them to fool globe and arabs ..
Who's the thief here? It's not Israel, it's France, why? Israel already payed for the boats, France don't deliver it , the French are the High class Scammer here,
I love IDF.
When the rules no longer seem fair, change them.
Circa: Qatar 2025 🇮🇱😎🇮🇱
DeGaule, as obnoxious and repulsive as he always has been, I see him as a poser
Now, the cowardly Brits and French are siding with Islamic fascists in Palestine. Democrats in America are doing the same. England and France will be ruled by Islamists soon.
The NATO it's Allies will always side with Arabs for the sake Of Arabs oils . The Arabs the Israelis and the whole Asia should unite against the west and its rhetoric
Love the story.clever!
What kind of an idiot would call this theft ! France is the only thief here ! Took money and didn’t deliver (as always) !!
GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT !!
This Video doesnt state the Truth.. ISRAEL had payed up in-full for France to build these ships for them, but France decided to withold them for "political" reasons of the French Govt !
So Israel decided to "take what they paid for" and bring their ships home. Simple as that !!
Who knew that the french would still be Islamic sympathizers and terror lovers till this day.
One day the sand people will learn to stop trying to slaughter the Jews
I'm betting the British knew. I'm also betting the French knew. Israel has friends.
France was acting treacherous as usual.
Either it's AI or poorly written/ edited.
Get ready. I believe Jesus will return on the Feast of Trumpets.
Just doing the right thing
IT IS WRITTEN
WHO EVER CURSES Israel 🇮🇱 GOD WILL CURSE; and whoever BLESSES ISRAEL 🇮🇱 GOD WILL BLESS) EVIDENCE;
DONALD TRUMP’s EAR 👂 and the
HAMAS thugs learned this lesson the Hard way) MORE EVIDENCE)
5,000 pagers 📟 All Blowing UP 💥💥 NEXT t their Radios Blowing UP
72 virgins was the last message that they Saw) and they all looked
Like Saddam Hussein) next their RADIOS 💥
God bless Israel.
Wow! And I thought the landing on the moon and the Philippines winning Miss Universe were the highlights of 1969. Was this story ever made into a movie? Advise me when it is. Yay, Israel Navy!
Proud so very proud
Hope some politicians to take lessons from Israel politics …..
New sub ,🇬🇧👍
Israel are the Spartans of the 20th century
Don't mess with Israel is the message, you'll get your arse slapped if you do.
Good job, Israel 🇮🇱
Old stuff . .
The Boat of Cherburg
Baruch HASHEM. HINEH Lo YANUM, HINEH Lo YANUM VELO YISHAN SHOMER YISROEL. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤TODAH RABAH ABBA YHVH TOV – AVINU MALKEINU. ELOHIM LANU MACHASEH VA’OZ . HALLELUJAH AMEN
all sounds a bit cagey to be honest 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Outstanding … I am of the opinion that 'luck' does not exist … and that G-d is always in charge of everything, every success, every death … He owns us and His designs are being worked among and through us whether or not we happen to like it. Best to orient vertically … Wonderful to see Israel victorious. comforting to know every life is held in the infinite love of our creator … and He is always just, merciful where possible, and always trustworthy. No one else is.
"DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE SURVIVAL OF YOUR PEOPLE."
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS DOING, LIKE IT OR LUMP IT!!!
It’s not theft, it’s a ‘Strategic Acquisition & Transfer of Assets’
It was perhaps all subterfuge on top of subterfuge. France had no other course of action but to make a big show of refusing delivery to Israel. The whole story is perhaps concocted to be convincing to Arabs and that France remained loyal to the Arab world.
Those Exocet missiles during the Falklands conflict huh.
What was Israel suppose to do? They bought the ships and then France refuses to release their property? So France turns their back on Israel- it really worked out well for them, didn’t it?