IDF Chief of Staff Orders Leave Embargo on Election Day Amid Terror Threat

The Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, has ordered a halt to all IDF leaves on election day due to concerns that terror organizations may attempt to carry out attacks to influence the elections. This decision followed a security assessment that examined the possibility of such attacks on that day. In preparation for the elections, the IDF has intensified its operational activities and altered its defensive posture across all fronts, including the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Syria, and the Jordanian border. Concurrently, there is an increased readiness due to intelligence on various terror activity channels that the military is monitoring, fearing that terror groups will try to exploit election day for attacks. Last week, Zamir addressed the security situation during a visit to the Central Command. "Given the numerous warnings across all arenas and the sensitivity of the period, the potential for escalation has increased. We have raised the level of readiness, and we continue to prepare for a situation where they try to surprise us," he stated. Against this backdrop, about two weeks ago, it was reported that Zamir was briefed by senior American officials on the U.S. military's preparations for the possibility of renewed large-scale combat against Iran in the near future. According to a senior American official and another source briefed on the conversation, Zamir said that renewing the war at this time could lead to the postponement of elections in Israel, due to the assessment that Iran would respond by launching missiles toward Israel. The IDF Spokesperson's Unit declined to comment on the conversations between the Chief of Staff and his American counterparts.