IDF Chief of Staff Warns of Surprise War, Cites Yom Kippur and Oct. 7 Failures

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has warned the military's senior command and leadership that Israel must be prepared for war by surprise, drawing parallels between the failures of the Yom Kippur War and the October 7th Hamas attacks. Speaking during a visit to a training exercise of the new 38th Training Division, Zamir stated that both events were painful failures and that the common lesson is the need to constantly anticipate surprise.

Zamir emphasized the imperative to break conceptual stagnation within the army, stating that commanders who do not question their assumptions are doomed to be defeated. He urged the military to heed the constant signals from reality, adapt, and move forward rather than dwelling solely on past failures.

Addressing a strategic shift, Zamir announced an end to the trend of downsizing the IDF over the past two decades. He explained that the military's growing missions necessitate an increase in its size, which serves as the nation's strategic depth. The establishment of the 38th Division and other new formations are crucial steps in bolstering the military's strength and the country's security.

The 38th Division will now become an operational division, serving as a flexible strategic reserve capable of operating in all arenas throughout the coming year. Zamir concluded by expressing gratitude to the reservists present at the exercise for their exceptional sacrifice over the past three years.