IDF Overhauls Defense and Offense Capabilities in Three Years of War

In the three years since the October 7th attacks, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have significantly restructured their defense and offensive strategies, extending security perimeters far beyond the border and preparing for prolonged, multi-arena warfare. In the Gaza Strip, defense now begins before reaching settlements, with upgraded infrastructure, enhanced security for local defense teams, and improved training. Approximately 40 new positions have been established within Gaza's "yellow line" to concentrate forces and create mutual support, while a massive physical and technological barrier has replaced the previous one, with hundreds of terrorist infrastructures destroyed and over 4,000 boreholes drilled to detect underground tunnels.

Along the northern border with Lebanon, the IDF's approach is "army before civilians," aiming to proactively engage threats before they reach Israeli communities. Significant operations have targeted infrastructure in southern Lebanon to create a deep security zone. In Syria and the Golan Heights, ten new positions have been established, and defense now starts with early threat detection and neutralization far from settlements. Local defense teams in northern Israeli communities have tripled in size, equipped with advanced technology, and rapid response units have been formed.

In Judea and Samaria, the concept of "the settlement as a fortress" has been implemented, strengthening security within settlements and along roads. Military camps have been designated as fortified positions, and operational plans are continuously drilled. Efforts to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in refugee camps like Jenin and Tulkarm continue, with approximately 45,000 suspects arrested and over 3,800 weapons confiscated in the West Bank over the past three years.

A new division, Division 96, has been established on the eastern border to counter threats from the east and bolster border defense. This includes reactivating "Waterline" positions and forming rapid response territorial brigades. The Ground Forces have also redefined border defense, shifting from static settlement defense to a proactive approach that identifies and neutralizes threats before they reach residents, integrating intelligence, firepower, and available forces. The use of robotics and remotely operated vehicles is accelerating to reduce risks to soldiers, and training facilities have been upgraded to better simulate battlefield conditions.

Home Front Command has expanded its capacity to operate in multiple arenas simultaneously, improving alert systems and defense measures. Cooperation with local authorities and emergency services has increased, with hundreds of shelters renovated and thousands of protective structures deployed. Technological survivability has also been enhanced with reinforced communication infrastructure and backup command centers. The reserve forces have expanded by approximately 36% since the war began, with new reserve formations established across various operational fields. However, this expansion has led to an increased service burden, with an average of 80-100 reserve duty days per combat unit annually, compared to the planned 55.