IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi issued a stern warning to Israel's enemies on Monday, vowing the Jewish state will retaliate against any attack, especially an Iranian one, as it is well prepared to strike back "be it near or far."
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"Lately, we've noticed a rise in Iranian threats against Israel," Kochavi said in remarks delivered during the IDF's Operational Achievements Awards.
"If Iran and its partners, members of the radical axis, either directly or by proxy, will take action against the State of Israel, they will find themselves in a very costly endeavor," he warned.
"The IDF will strike all those involved in activities against the State of Israel or against Israeli targets, whether in part or in full, be it near or far. I say these things simply, clearly and with complete commitment: our retaliatory steps have been prepared and rehearsed. I advise our enemies not to test us."
The military chief further addressed a severe incident that occurred on Saturday night in which an IDF soldier refrained from shooting a terrorist who hurled a Molotov cocktail at him.
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"We must see victory as a value," Kochavi stressed. "We must see it as a compass that guides us in every activity. The concept of victory isn't only applicable to war. It is an essential part of the soldier's identity and a unit's operation every day. Every soldier facing an enemy, routinely or in war, must act sharply, engage, and thwart any threat."
The soldier was dismissed from the unit or Sunday.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
