IDF Chief of Staff:

Any enemy who threatens Israel’s security will pay a heavy price. Trust us and rely on the strength of the Israel Defense Forces to act decisively in all areas.“

„When I assumed this office, I said that before our eyes lay the victory and defeat of the enemy.

Attached is a video statement from Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir:

https://bit.ly/4cSy3pU

Full speech by the Chief of Staff LTG. Eyal Zamir:

„Citizens of Israel,

We recently launched Operation Roaring Lion. The Israeli Defense Forces, in coordination with the U.S. Army, have begun striking strategic targets in Iran. We are operating at a high level of readiness, both defensively and offensively.

We are now facing a major, decisive, and unprecedented operation aimed at dismantling the capabilities of the Iranian regime of terror—capabilities that pose a continuing existential threat to the security of the State of Israel. It is an operation to secure our existence and future here in the land of our ancestors for generations to come.

Last June, we completed Operation Rising Lion, in which we disrupted and delayed the nuclear program, struck the ballistic missile system, and undermined the plan conceived and executed by the Iranian regime and its regional partners to destroy the State of Israel. Operation Rising Lion demonstrated the vulnerability of this regime.“ We broke its internal stability and, for the first time, established historic cooperation with the U.S. military during Operation Midnight Hammer, in which U.S. aircraft delivered a powerful blow to Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Since then, we have continued to monitor developments in Iran. Despite the significant damage, the radical Iranian regime has not abandoned its vision or hostile intentions to advance its plan to destroy Israel. It has continued to promote its nuclear program, resumed and accelerated the production of ballistic missiles, and destabilized the region by funding and arming terrorist proxies.

In recent months, under political leadership—in coordination with my colleagues, the President of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Commander of CENTCOM—I have led a profound and comprehensive joint operational planning process. This reflects unprecedented cooperation between the Israel Defense Forces and the U.S. military.

The Israel Defense Forces are prepared and on high alert for a wide range of scenarios. Right now, Israeli Air Force pilots are striking hundreds of targets across Iran, at great personal risk and in coordination with US attacks. Air defense systems and the navy are being deployed to defend Israel’s skies and coastline against missile barrages and threats from the air and sea. Our ground forces are positioned along the borders to thwart and repel any attempt to enter Israeli territory. Forces of the Internal Front Command, along with the Israeli police and emergency medical services, are ready to protect and save civilian lives.

As we all know, there is no such thing as a hermetic defense. We must not underestimate the enemy’s ability to harm us. We face difficult trials in the coming period.

We surpass our adversaries with courage, the determination of our fighters, and the justice of our cause. Our resilience is our strength. Time and again, our enemies learn that the resilience of the Israeli Internal Front cannot be broken. We share a common destiny.

We will stand together like a fortified wall against every challenge, with confidence in the strength of Israel.

Citizens of Israel—my brothers and sisters—I call upon you to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command. Strict adherence to these instructions will save lives.

In recent weeks, I have met with our forces on the front lines and on the home front. I have closely examined their readiness and availability—soldiers, intelligence personnel, logistics units, headquarters, and operations centers—all working under strict secrecy.