The Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, declared that the Israeli army is prepared to respond with full force to any threat that jeopardizes the country’s security, especially given the persistent tensions with Iran
During a visit to the Nevatim air base in southern Israel on Wednesday (January 21, 2026), Zamir spoke directly with pilots and military personnel of the Israeli Air Force.
He emphasized that the air force functions as the strategic arm of the Defense Forces and that, in the last two years, pilots have been on the front lines in both offensive and defensive missions on different combat fronts.
The general made specific reference to the 12-day war against Iran, which occurred in June of last year.
According to him, this experience gave the pilots a level of practical operation unique in the world, and the lessons learned are being used to further strengthen Israel’s defense capabilities.
Zamir made it clear that the army remains fully prepared for different scenarios and continues to improve its skills to ensure victory in any confrontation against its enemies.
In another recent visit, to the headquarters of the Home Front Command in Ramle on January 19, the Chief of Staff reinforced that this unit is well-trained, competent, and on high alert to protect the civilian population against threats on several simultaneous fronts.
He stated that the command has advanced tools to save lives and that the Defense Forces now have unprecedented offensive power, ready to react decisively to any attack against Israel.
These statements come in a context of ongoing tensions with Iran, aggravated by anti-government protests in the Persian country that have left thousands dead and imprisoned, as well as reciprocal threats and harsh statements from international leaders about possible military action.
This same week, three new F-35 stealth fighters were added to the Israeli fleet, bringing the total to 48 aircraft of this model at the Nevatim base.
With these words, Eyal Zamir sent a firm message: Israel maintains its defense in a state of full readiness, including for the possibility of a surprise war, and will not hesitate to act resolutely to protect its people and its sovereignty.
Published in 01/22/2026 09h55
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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