Lilach Shoval – www.israelhayom.com

How October 7 forced the Israeli Air Force to change everything

omrif — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 18:15:54 +0000

Under the October 7 lessons learned process, the IDF says aerial readiness in the Israeli Air Force has increased by more than 250 percent compared with the eve of Simchat Torah 2023. As part of a new aerial border defense plan, readiness levels for fighter jet armaments have risen by 275 percent, attack helicopter readiness has doubled, overall munitions readiness has increased to more than 200 percent, and intervention helicopter readiness has jumped by over 400 percent. In addition, an attack helicopter squadron has been redeployed northward to raise alert levels in that sector.

Meeting the new operational demands requires the IDF to procure additional aircraft, including Apache helicopters, while also extending the service life of older platforms. Alert schedules have also been revised. Fighter pilots, for example, are now expected to strike within minutes of being called up, compared with 45 minutes under the alert posture in place on October 6. Within the first hour, they are required to strike at least 60 targets to disrupt enemy activity.

Minimum requirements have also been set for the number of unmanned aerial vehicles that must be airborne at any given time, as well as for the quantity and types of munitions carried by various aircraft. Five helicopters have been placed on constant alert to rapidly deploy intervention forces from Shayetet 13, Sayeret Matkal and Shaldag. To enable rapid insertion of forces near unfolding incidents, the IDF has prepared hundreds of landing zones across the country, allowing troops to be set down in numerous locations. In Judea and Samaria alone, more than 500 landing zones have been established.

Attack helicopter readiness has doubled. An IDF helicopter operating in the Gaza Strip during the war. Photo: IDF Spokesperson.

The IDF stresses that the Israeli Air Force does not replace regional commands for border defense. However, despite the fact that the Air Force met all of its alert requirements on October 7 and even exceeded them, it proved ineffective in the face of the scale of the attack. As a result, the aerial response to eruptive incidents has been fundamentally reworked.

Rules of engagement have also been revised. Under the new directives, when a division commander declares the code word "Ra'am," signaling an eruptive incident within the division, orders come into force that delegate significantly greater authority to pilots. For example, pilots may strike enemy forces identified either on Israeli territory or across the border, while making every effort to safeguard Israeli troops and civilians.

Fighter jets have also been assigned predefined targets in every sector based on terrain analysis. Even if contact with headquarters cannot be established, pilots know that during an incident in a given sector they are to strike targets already designated in advance. To cope with dozens of simultaneous incidents, the Air Force has defined "air combat teams," combining crews from observation, transport, attack helicopter and UAV squadrons. These teams are usually positioned close to the area of operations and can divide and manage incidents from the air if the Air Force's central command bunker becomes overloaded.

The Gaza border fence is breached by Hamas bulldozers on October 7 Arab Networks

To embed the changes, a "Border Defense Airpower" conference was held about two weeks ago for commanders and officers from the Air Force and the Ground Forces. The shift represents a conceptual change, under which the Air Force commander approved an updated mission for the air and space arm, formally adding "border defense" to its mandate. In parallel, the Participation and Helicopters Command has changed its name and mission to the Participation and Border Defense Command. Headed by an officer with the rank of brigadier general, the command is now responsible for border defense during eruptive incidents and for providing aerial support to ground maneuvering forces.

In addition, while on October 7 the Air Force operated through a single control, during the war a new control, dubbed "Oz," was established. It operates around the clock and is tasked with providing a rapid aerial umbrella to all forces fighting across all fronts.

Further changes include adding a phone to pilots' helmets and distributing the phone numbers of all local security coordinators nationwide to every squadron. In light of the communications breakdowns on October 7, the IDF has also institutionalized five communication channels linking forces managing incidents in the air and on the ground, ranging from standard military communications to the use of civilian networks to ensure connectivity between all forces responding to an event.

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Israel eliminates senior Iranian Quds Force operative in Lebanon

omrif — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 14:43:26 +0000

The IDF and the Shin Bet security agency said Thursday they eliminated a senior operative in Iran's Quds Force in northeastern Lebanon.

The target was identified as Hossein Hussein Mahmoud Marshad al-Jawhari, a key operative in the Quds Force's operations unit. He was killed together with another terrorist, Majed Qansoua, according to Israeli officials.

Al-Jawhari operated under Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and was involved in Iranian directed terrorist activity against the State of Israel and Israeli security forces, the IDF said.

In a statement, the IDF stressed that Unit 840, the Quds Force's external operations unit headed by Asghar Bagheri and his deputy Mohammad Reza Ansari, is responsible for directing Iranian terrorist activity against Israel. "The IDF and the Shin Bet view with utmost seriousness any attempt by the Iranian regime and its proxies to advance terrorist plots and will continue to act to remove any threat to the State of Israel," the statement said.

Earlier, Lebanese media reported an Israeli strike in northeastern Lebanon. The reports said that in addition to al-Jawhari, Qansoua was also killed in the attack.

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Israeli arrested for photographing Bennett home for Iran

omrif — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 08:09:55 +0000

An Israeli citizen from Rishon Lezion has been arrested on suspicion of carrying out security offenses under the direction of Iranian intelligence operatives, including photographing the area near the home of former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett.

The suspect, Vadim Kupriyanov, an Israeli citizen in his 40s and a resident of Rishon Lezion, was detained by the Shin Bet security agency and Israel Police. Investigators said Kupriyanov was instructed by his handlers to purchase a car-mounted camera as part of the mission.

According to the investigation, over the past two months Kupriyanov was asked to carry out a range of security-related tasks. At the request of those directing him, he transferred various photographs taken in his city of residence and in other cities, in exchange for different sums of money.

Espionage for Iran (illustrative). Photo: Netalie Ron-Raz Netalie Ron-Raz

On Thursday, following the conclusion of the investigation, an indictment will be filed against Kupriyanov at the Lod District Court by the Central District Attorney's Office.

Bennett responded in a post on his Instagram account, writing: "Iran's efforts to harm me will not stop me from my life's mission."

Bennett in Iran's crosshairs

Last week, an Iranian cyber group hacked into Bennett's smartphone and published a 141-page phone book that it claimed was taken from Bennett's personal device. Shortly afterward, the group released portions of private correspondence he had conducted over the years.

The hackers mocked the former prime minister in a message addressed to him, saying that despite his past claims of being a beacon of cybersecurity and presenting his expertise to the world, it was ironic that his iPhone 13 had fallen so easily into their hands. They derided what they described as his digital fortress as nothing more than a paper wall waiting to be breached.

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett. Photo: Yoav Dudkevitch

Bennett later said the matter was being handled by the authorities, adding that Israel's enemies would do everything possible to prevent him from becoming prime minister again. "It won't help them," he said. "No one will stop me from acting and fighting for the State of Israel and the people of Israel."

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IDF strikes Hezbollah launch sites in southern Lebanon

omrif — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 09:19:15 +0000

The IDF carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah launch sites in southern Lebanon, the military said on Tuesday.

According to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, Israeli Air Force jets struck several Hezbollah launch sites in multiple areas across southern Lebanon. The strikes destroyed military structures and terrorist infrastructure that had been used by Hezbollah in recent weeks.

BREAKING:

Israel currently bombing areas in southern Lebanon right now. pic.twitter.com/MKC4g9O4SO

— S2FUncensored (@S2FUncensored) December 24, 2025

The IDF said the very existence of the launch sites constituted a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon, and stressed that the military would continue to act to remove any threat to the State of Israel and to thwart Hezbollah's efforts to rebuild its capabilities.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese television channel Al Mayadeen reported that the Israeli Air Force carried out strikes in the Tabbana area of the Sidon district. Additional reports from Lebanon said strikes were also carried out in the Namiriya area of the Nabatiyeh district.

The IDF said the operation involved 11 munitions, targeting Hezbollah launch sites, infrastructure and additional military assets.

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The next Iran flashpoint is closer than Israel assumes

omrif — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 06:53:01 +0000

The series of alarming reports about a renewed Iranian threat, emerging about six months after the end of Operation Rising Lion, has unsettled Israelis who experienced the 12 days of fighting firsthand. The shift in tone reflects genuine concern in Israel, following intelligence assessments pointing to Iranian efforts to accelerate missile production and possibly even to test the rehabilitation of its nuclear program. Added to this is Iran's internal situation, which could serve as a catalyst for the regime to divert attention toward an external conflict.

The discussion began with a report on NBC that was only partially accurate, claiming Iran has the capability to produce 3,000 long-range surface-to-surface missiles within a short period of time. The reality is far from that, as Iran is not capable of manufacturing missiles on that scale so quickly. Still, security officials acknowledge in conversations with Israel Hayom that Iran's motivation in recent weeks to rebuild its missile array has grown, with a particular emphasis on launchers, which are a bottleneck in the rate of missile launches toward Israel.

According to Israeli assessments, Iran is seeking to significantly increase not only its missile stockpile but, more importantly, the number of launchers, in order to carry out an opening strike that would paralyze Israel and its air defense systems through the launch of a large volume of missiles.

Another report, published by Axios, said Israel suspects that a military exercise currently underway in Iran is a cover for a surprise attack Iran is planning against Israel. Here, too, there is a kernel of truth. Israel is indeed monitoring the exercise, but according to security sources, there is no concrete intelligence indicating that Iran has decided to use it as camouflage for a surprise strike. It is reasonable to assume that whoever leaked Israeli concerns about the exercise also sought to use the publication as a warning to Iran, making clear that Israel is aware of the drill and is closely tracking it.

Benjamin Netanyahu and Ali Khamenei. Photo: EPA, AFP

Iran is a "wounded animal"

This is the place to positively note the shift in Israeli thinking since October 7, and the fact that Israel is closely monitoring developments in Iran and is not once again falling into the trap of assuming Iranian capabilities have been destroyed for the long term and that the threat has been pushed far into the future. In Israel, officials understand that Iran is a "wounded animal." If before Operation Rising Lion it sought Israel's destruction and built capabilities toward that end, then after the operation its motivation has not declined but, on the contrary, has only intensified.

In recent months, Israel assessed that Iran, and Israel as well, required a certain period of recovery after Operation Rising Lion to rebuild its missile infrastructure. The prevailing assumption was therefore that it would take time before the next round. However, as noted, the intelligence Israel is closely following points to an acceleration in the rehabilitation of Iran's missile array, alongside some activity aimed at attempting to restart its nuclear program.

One of the most troubling variables that has received less media attention in recent days is Iran's highly complex internal situation, reflected, among other things, in the ongoing erosion of its currency. Israel does not rule out the possibility that, in order to cope with its domestic problems, the Iranian regime may seek to initiate an external war with Israel to divert public attention away from the country's economic and other difficulties.

In any case, senior officials told Israel Hayom that the arena most troubling Israel's defense establishment leaders at this time is Iran, and the greatest fear is a miscalculation or a surprise of which Israel would be unaware. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the issue last night, saying, "We know that Iran has been conducting exercises recently. We are following this, making the necessary preparations. And I want to make clear to Iran: any action will be met with a very harsh response."

Meanwhile, Israel's defense establishment is preparing all the intelligence and operational material Netanyahu will need for discussions with President Trump. The central problem, as analyzed in Israel, is that while Trump is committed to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, he has not promised to remove the threat posed by surface-to-surface missiles, which Israel has also rightly defined as an existential threat. As a result, much will depend on the meeting between Netanyahu and Trump at the end of the month.

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IDF career service in crisis

omrif — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 10:40:51 +0000

The IDF has been warning for some time of a severe crisis in its career service ranks. The crisis has now reached a boiling point and is threatening Israel's national security. Data revealed by Israel Hayom show that because of the wave of departures, almost anyone willing to remain in the IDF is being promoted to the ranks of lieutenant colonel and major. The immediate meaning is clear: a clear drop in the quality of IDF officers.

These are no longer general statements but hard IDF figures. Four years ago, about 800 officers competed for roughly 400 lieutenant colonel positions, a ratio of two candidates per job. Recently, only about 500 officers have been competing for the same number of posts, a ratio of about 1.25 candidates per job. The troubling implication is that nearly anyone who wants to reach the rank of lieutenant colonel, the rank held by battalion commanders and branch heads in the IDF, gets it. Positions are filled, but the army has little real ability to choose who fills them because demand is so low.

How many of them will remain in career service? Graduation of the Infantry Officers Course. Photo: Dudu Grinshpan

A rapid climb through the ranks

The problem begins at the lower officer ranks of captain and major, where the largest share of high quality officers are leaving. According to IDF data, the acute shortage of majors has forced the military to promote captains to major after just a year and two months, or at most a year and a half, simply to fill positions. In the past, the average time to advance from captain to major was about three and a half years.

As a result, officers who reach the rank of major and assume the heavy responsibilities that come with it arrive less prepared, and "burn out" more quickly. Many choose not to continue with the demanding military lifestyle and instead leave for civilian jobs that are usually easier and often better paid.

Some argue that the IDF is exaggerating when it warns of a manpower crisis. But the figures published here, together with previously reported departure numbers, show the crisis is real and serious. The long term damage is clear. As high quality commanders leave, their best subordinates often follow, and the army as a whole gradually becomes mediocre.

If the career service becomes mediocre, the implications for Israel's security and the IDF's ability to win wars are enormous. The career army is the cornerstone of both the reserves and the conscript force. If parents know that their son's commander is average rather than excellent, they will be far less eager to send him to combat service.

Photo: Yehoshua Yosef

Months ago, the IDF's Personnel Directorate rolled out a plan to retain career soldiers, including housing benefits, bonuses and expanded support for service members and their families. The plan has run into obstacles created by the state, including ongoing threats to career soldiers' terms of service and a continued negative public discourse about their conditions.

Senior IDF officials are particularly frustrated that despite a High Court of Justice deadline for legislation on so called chief of staff pension supplements, the Knesset is dragging its feet. The delay is largely due to objections from a single lawmaker, MK Amit Halevi.

Hundreds seeking to leave

As previously reported, the lack of legislation has already prompted more than 500 officers to submit requests for immediate discharge. In the meantime, the military is trying to delay their departures, arguing that it will manage to resolve the issue with the Knesset.

Halevi argues, among other things, that young career officers do not stay because of pensions but for other reasons. Even if that is partly true, there is no doubt that younger career soldiers see the repeated hits to senior officers' pay and the public rhetoric of recent years portraying career soldiers as draining public funds. They understand that while career service once provided economic security, that is no longer the case.

Add to this the heavy workload, harsh conditions, risk to life and family pressure, and the picture becomes clear. Without a meaningful change in public discourse and genuine recognition of career service, lasting damage will be done, with consequences that will also be felt in the outcomes of future IDF wars.

The IDF hopes that housing benefits, bonuses, incentives and expanded family support will halt and even reverse the trend. But as long as the state fails to grasp the urgency of the situation and take meaningful steps to show respect for those who serve, including ending the disparaging rhetoric, it is doubtful that the reality on the ground will change.

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Israeli civilians cross into Gaza Strip as dozens attempt to breach border

omrif — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:45:59 +0000

Several Israeli civilians crossed into the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, with Israel Defense Forces troops in the area returning them to Israeli territory, the IDF said. According to the military, the civilians were under constant surveillance by IDF observation units throughout the incident.

Shortly afterward, dozens more Israeli civilians attempted to cross the border in a separate incident. Several breached a barrier and entered the security buffer zone separating Israel from the Gaza Strip, but IDF troops and police officers rushed to the scene and prevented them from entering Gaza.

Tanks on the Gaza border. Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit IDF Spokesperson's Unit

The IDF did not provide further details on the identities of the civilians or the circumstances that led to the attempted crossings.

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Thousands of Israelis receive text messages from Iranian Intelligence

omrif — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 08:54:53 +0000

Thousands of Israelis received a suspicious text message on their mobile phones on Thursday, apparently originating from Iran, inviting them to cooperate with Iranian intelligence agencies.

The message, written in English, read: "Iranian intelligence agencies are ready to receive your intelligence cooperation. To cooperate, contact one of the Iranian embassies via the internet."

Israel's National Cyber Directorate said it was aware of the message and issued clear instructions to the public.

What should you do?

Ignore the message completely. Do not respond and do not attempt to contact the sender. Block the sending number, mark it as spam, and do not forward the message, in order to prevent unnecessary dissemination.

Against the backdrop of more than 30 espionage-related cases exposed by the Shin Bet security agency over the past two and a half years, Israeli security officials say Iran has been carrying out widespread "spray and pray" recruitment efforts online. These attempts target normative citizens and span a broad range of sectors across Israeli society.

Investigations and indictments show that the overwhelming majority of Israelis involved were aware they were cooperating with Iran. In many cases, the initial approach was made directly through social media platforms, with messages such as: "Hello, this is Iranian intelligence. You can help us and we will help you in return for money."

According to the indictments, Israelis who established contact with Iranian handlers often began with tasks they perceived as harmless, such as photographing streets, signs or vandalizing vehicles. Over time, however, they were directed to carry out serious security-related missions. These included photographing the streets near the homes of public figures, reaching hospitals where prominent individuals were being treated, and even attempts to obtain weapons.

Israeli security officials stress that raising public awareness of the consequences of cooperating with Iranian elements, and the severe harm such ties pose to national security, is essential. The goal, they say, is to ensure that Israelis who receive suspicious approaches online or from Iranian sources understand the gravity of their actions and the seriousness of such contact with an enemy state.

Ongoing dialogue is being held with local authorities to strengthen public awareness and resilience in light of the many cases uncovered. Several months ago, Israel's National Public Diplomacy Directorate launched a broad public campaign highlighting the dangers and consequences of establishing contact with hostile Iranian elements.

Espionage for Iran (illustrative). Photo: Netalie Ron-Raz Netalie Ron-Raz

Iranian espionage by the numbers

The Shin Bet has reported a 200% increase from 2024 to 2025 in counter espionage prevention activity carried out by its counterterrorism and counterintelligence division. This has involved dozens of cases, including warning calls, arrests and interrogations.

There has also been a rise of more than 30% in the number of arrests and investigations related to Iranian espionage between 2024 and 2025.

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Israel secures record $6.7 B defense export to Germany

miriw — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 09:00:43 +0000

The Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that the German Bundestag has approved the expansion of the deal to sell Israel's Arrow 3 system to Germany, valued at approximately $3.1 billion.

The signing of the expanded contract is expected to take place on Thursday in Germany, led by the head of the Homa Directorate at MAFAT in the Defense Ministry, with participation from representatives of the Israeli Defense Ministry, the German Defense Ministry and Israel Aerospace Industries. The Arrow deal, signed by the defense ministries of Israel and Germany, is expected to total over $6.7 billion (more than 20 billion shekels) and will be the largest in the history of the State of Israel.

The Arrow 3 system was developed jointly by the Homa Directorate at MAFAT in the Defense Ministry, the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and Israel Aerospace Industries. As part of the deal expansion, the Israeli Defense Ministry and the German Defense Ministry have agreed to a significant increase in the production rate of Arrow 3 interceptors and launchers, to be supplied to Germany, significantly improving its air defense capability.

The scope of the deal is estimated at approximately $3.1 billion and is expected to complete the sales contract that Israel and Germany signed about two years ago, valued at approximately $3.6 billion. The two deals together are estimated at approximately $6.7 billion (over 20 billion shekels), Israel's largest-ever defense export deal.

Chief of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Holger Neumann, presents the initial capability of the "Arrow Weapon System for Germany" in Annaburg, Germany, December 3, 2025 (Photo: Reuters/Axel Schmidt) REUTERS

"Expression of German trust"

Defense Minister Israel Katz said, "The Bundestag's approval of the Arrow 3 deal expansion is a clear expression of the deep trust that Germany places in the State of Israel, in its technological capabilities and in our shared commitment to defending our citizens in the face of escalating threats.

"This is a first-class strategic partnership, based on a long-term security strategy. The revenues from the deal will help continue advanced strategic developments, strengthen the IDF's military capabilities, and ensure Israel's qualitative edge for years to come against our enemies – while deepening security cooperation with our partners in Europe and around the world."

Defense Ministry Director-General Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram said, "The Arrow deal expansion is another significant milestone in the deepening strategic relations between Israel and Germany, our central partner in Europe. The massive deal, valued at over $3 billion, embodies, in practical terms, the Defense Ministry's strategy to increase defense exports. The deal will strengthen Israel's position in the world as a defense superpower, will expand and accelerate Arrow production for the IDF as well, and will channel billions into strengthening the defense industries and developing the next generations of defense systems."

Flags flutter in front of a radom of the "Arrow Weapon System for Germany" pictured in Annaburg, Germany, December 3, 2025 (Photo: Reuters/Axel Schmidt) REUTERS

MAFAT head at the Defense Ministry, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Dr. Danny Gold said, "I congratulate the signing of the deal with Germany to expand procurement of Arrow 3 interceptors. This represents a significant expression of trust in the Defense Ministry, the Israeli defense industry, and relations between the countries. The Arrow system, a significant part of the multi-layered air defense array that protected the citizens of the State of Israel during the war, now protects Germany's skies. We will continue to fulfill our mission as required."

IAI CEO Boaz Levy said, "IAI's centrality in Germany's air defense array and the trust built with the German government were expressed in the delivery of the Arrow 3 system within just two years from the signing date to supply. The mutual trust, advanced technological development capabilities, as proven in the campaign and meeting the schedules – all these led to the German government's decision to approve the follow-on deal for procurement of the Arrow air defense system."

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Israel confirms Hamas' No. 2 eliminated in Gaza

omrif — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 20:06:09 +0000

The IDF and the Shin Bet security agency eliminated Ra'ad Sa'ad, head of the production headquarters of Hamas' military wing and one of the architects of the October 7 massacre, Israeli officials confirmed on Saturday.

Israeli fighter jets fired three missiles at Sa'ad's vehicle in Gaza City, killing him. The US was informed of the strike only after it was carried out.

Sa'ad was considered the terrorist organization's second-in-command and the de facto deputy of Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, head of Hamas' military wing in Gaza.

The October 7 attack. Photo: AFP AFP

According to the IDF statement, "In recent months, Sa'ad played a leading role in Hamas' military wing, including direct involvement in violating the ceasefire agreement. He also oversaw the continued production of weapons in the Gaza Strip during the ceasefire period."

ELIMINATED: Ra'ad Sa'ad, Head of the Weapons Production Headquarters of Hamas' Military Wing and One of the Architects of the Brutal October 7th Massacre

Sa'ad was one of the last remaining veteran senior militants in the Gaza Strip and a close associate of Marwan Issa, the… pic.twitter.com/nIa1VUqryI

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 13, 2025

Sa'ad, known by the alias Abu Moaz, was among the last senior veteran figures to remain in the Gaza Strip. He held a series of senior positions and was close to Marwan Issa, the deputy head of Hamas' military wing, who was also killed. Among other roles, Sa'ad established and commanded the Gaza City Brigade and was involved in setting up Hamas' naval force in the Gaza Strip.

After completing his tenure as commander of the Gaza Brigade, Sa'ad was appointed head of operations headquarters. In that role, he established the Nukhba units and took part in designing and building the "Jericho Wall" plan, the framework on which Hamas based its plans for the October 7 massacre.

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