The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday launched a surprise military exercise, codenamed "Dawn", to test the readiness of its general headquarters and key command centers.
As per the Jerusalem Post, directed by chief of staff major general Eyal Zamir, the drill aims to assess the army’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to large-scale attacks. According to the IDF, the exercise includes surprise scenarios and multi-scene events across all potential "theaters of war."
IDF Comptroller Brigadier General (res.) Ofer Sarigm and his team are overseeing the exercise, evaluating reaction time in both quality and capability. “The IDF will continue and initiate a series of audit activities across all commands, branches, and units in order to improve their competence and readiness,” the military said in a statement.
The exercise comes as Israel presses ahead with plans to expand its military campaign in Gaza, including the capture of Gaza City, a move approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet on Friday, drawing domestic and international criticism.
Netanyahu will hold a press conference with international media in Jerusalem on Sunday at 4:30 pm local time (07:00 pm IST). The press conference marks his first time meeting with the international press following his security cabinet's decision to expand the war in Gaza and take control of Gaza City.
On Saturday night, the IDF struck a Hezbollah operative in southern Lebanon’s Aynata area, alleging the individual was gathering intelligence on Israeli forces in violation of the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon.
Netanyahu, who held a three-hour security meeting last week, was presented with multiple options for advancing the Gaza campaign. In a post on his official X account, the prime minister’s office said, “The IDF is prepared to carry out any decision made by the Security Cabinet.”
Thousands of Israelis took to the streets in Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest the government’s Gaza plan, with rally organizers and hostage families warning Netanyahu of political consequences if hostages are killed during the operation.
“If you invade parts of Gaza and the hostages are murdered, we will pursue you in the town squares, in election campaigns and at every time and place,” Shahar Mor Zahiro, a relative of a slain hostage, said as quoted by news agency AFP.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its offensive in 2023, figures the United Nations says are reliable. Hamas’s initial attack that triggered the war killed 1,219 people in Israel, based on official tallies cited by AFP.
The Palestinian Authority has condemned Israel’s plan as “a new crime,” with President Mahmud Abbas stressing the “urgent need to take action to stop it immediately,” as reported by Wafa news agency.
Foreign ministers of Italy, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, and the UK have also criticised the move, warning it would worsen the humanitarian crisis, endanger hostages, and risk a mass civilian exodus.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has signalled tacit approval of Netanyahu’s plan, saying earlier this week that the decision is “pretty much up to Israel,” while committing the US to lead humanitarian aid efforts, as per The Hill.
Despite warnings from Israeli military chief Zamir that occupation could endanger hostages, Netanyahu has remained defiant, insisting: “We are not going to occupy Gaza — we are going to free Gaza from Hamas.”
As per the Jerusalem Post, directed by chief of staff major general Eyal Zamir, the drill aims to assess the army’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to large-scale attacks. According to the IDF, the exercise includes surprise scenarios and multi-scene events across all potential "theaters of war."
IDF Comptroller Brigadier General (res.) Ofer Sarigm and his team are overseeing the exercise, evaluating reaction time in both quality and capability. “The IDF will continue and initiate a series of audit activities across all commands, branches, and units in order to improve their competence and readiness,” the military said in a statement.
The exercise comes as Israel presses ahead with plans to expand its military campaign in Gaza, including the capture of Gaza City, a move approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet on Friday, drawing domestic and international criticism.
Netanyahu will hold a press conference with international media in Jerusalem on Sunday at 4:30 pm local time (07:00 pm IST). The press conference marks his first time meeting with the international press following his security cabinet's decision to expand the war in Gaza and take control of Gaza City.
On Saturday night, the IDF struck a Hezbollah operative in southern Lebanon’s Aynata area, alleging the individual was gathering intelligence on Israeli forces in violation of the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon.
Netanyahu, who held a three-hour security meeting last week, was presented with multiple options for advancing the Gaza campaign. In a post on his official X account, the prime minister’s office said, “The IDF is prepared to carry out any decision made by the Security Cabinet.”
Thousands of Israelis took to the streets in Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest the government’s Gaza plan, with rally organizers and hostage families warning Netanyahu of political consequences if hostages are killed during the operation.
“If you invade parts of Gaza and the hostages are murdered, we will pursue you in the town squares, in election campaigns and at every time and place,” Shahar Mor Zahiro, a relative of a slain hostage, said as quoted by news agency AFP.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its offensive in 2023, figures the United Nations says are reliable. Hamas’s initial attack that triggered the war killed 1,219 people in Israel, based on official tallies cited by AFP.
The Palestinian Authority has condemned Israel’s plan as “a new crime,” with President Mahmud Abbas stressing the “urgent need to take action to stop it immediately,” as reported by Wafa news agency.
Foreign ministers of Italy, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, and the UK have also criticised the move, warning it would worsen the humanitarian crisis, endanger hostages, and risk a mass civilian exodus.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has signalled tacit approval of Netanyahu’s plan, saying earlier this week that the decision is “pretty much up to Israel,” while committing the US to lead humanitarian aid efforts, as per The Hill.
Despite warnings from Israeli military chief Zamir that occupation could endanger hostages, Netanyahu has remained defiant, insisting: “We are not going to occupy Gaza — we are going to free Gaza from Hamas.”
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