IDF on High Alert for Holidays Amid Regional Tensions, Chief of Staff Warns

Israel's defense establishment is on high alert across all fronts ahead of the upcoming Jewish High Holidays, with Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi warning of significant regional volatility and emphasizing the need for extreme vigilance. The military is operating with maximum freedom of action in the West Bank, Gaza, and Lebanon, targeting militants and infrastructure. In Gaza alone, 14 militants, including five Hamas company commanders, were eliminated in the past week.

To counter potential threats and minimize the chance of surprise, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has conducted a series of readiness drills across all sectors in recent days. These exercises are designed to test the military's preparedness for a wide range of scenarios and maintain a high level of alertness. The drills are part of the Operations Directorate's exercise schedule for 2026.

As part of these preparations, the IDF launched a surprise multi-front exercise codenamed "Dawn's Dawn 2.0" early Monday morning. This exercise specifically tests the readiness of the General Staff and main commands to handle a sudden, complex, and large-scale multi-front event. It involves mobilizing commanders across all regional commands, branches, and directorates, as well as activating reserve forces and evaluating decision-making processes and operational responses at all levels.

The timing of the exercise was deliberate, aimed at bolstering defenses during the volatile holiday period. The IDF stated the exercise's goal is to assess the military's preparedness for unexpected operational scenarios, the activation of reserves, and the overall response capabilities from regional commands up to the Chief of Staff.