In a strategic assessment with commanders of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on 21/7, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said the Israeli military was "ordered to launch offensive operations on multiple fronts, as well as defensive operations in several areas and border regions".
He described the operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip as "one of the most complex campaigns the IDF has ever faced." "We are paying a heavy price for the conflict here," Zamir said, but asserted that the Israeli military "has achieved significant accomplishments here".
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Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip on 20/7. Photo: IDF |
Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip on 20/7. Photo: IDF
According to Zamir, the IDF will continue to operate on multiple fronts, including weakening the strategic capabilities of Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon, ensuring freedom of action in the region, and continuing the campaign in the West Bank. "Iran and its allies remain in our sights. The campaign against Iran is not over," he said.
This is the first time in 2 years that the IDF has conducted a comprehensive assessment of the situation on various fronts.
Zamir said the IDF's Depth Corps, a secretive unit specializing in overseas military operations, will undergo a major reorganization. It will become a command responsible for "managing, strategizing, commanding operations, and campaigns at the General Staff level," particularly in dealing with Iranian-backed forces in countries not bordering Israel.
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Location of the Gaza Strip. Graphic: CNN |
Location of the Gaza Strip. Graphic: CNN
The IDF launched its campaign against the Gaza Strip in 10/2023 in response to a Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis. The conflict has so far killed more than 59,000 people in Gaza and injured over 142,000, mostly civilians.
Hamas has recently changed tactics, deploying independent, dispersed operational cells instead of concentrating its forces. This tactic has allowed Hamas to easily ambush and inflict heavy casualties on Israeli forces, especially in complex urban environments. The dispersed Hamas forces also make it difficult for the IDF to identify targets and organize effective counterattacks.
Nguyen Tien (Times of Israel, AP, AFP)
