“The IDF is capable, prepared and vigilant in defending the State of Israel, and is ready to act quickly and strike with force,” Zamir said.
By United with Israel Staff
The IDF launched a surprise General Staff exercise Sunday morning to test the military’s readiness for a sudden, large-scale attack across multiple fronts, as Israel steps up preparations ahead of the Jewish holiday season.
The drill, dubbed “Rising Dawn 2.0,” was ordered by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and is testing the preparedness of the General Staff, senior commands and forces on alert to respond to a complex and rapidly developing multi-front security crisis.
As the exercise continued Sunday evening, Zamir issued a stark warning to Israel’s enemies, saying the drill was intended not only to test the military but also to send a message about its readiness to respond to an attack.
“Anyone who tries to harm the State of Israel and its citizens will encounter an IDF that is determined, prepared and vigilant, and will pay an immediate and very heavy price,” Zamir said.
“Today’s exercise is also a message to our enemies: The IDF is capable, prepared and vigilant in defending the State of Israel, and is ready to act quickly and strike with force,” he added.
Earlier, Zamir held a situational assessment with members of the General Staff as the surprise exercise unfolded alongside ongoing IDF operations on multiple fronts.
“We are in a tense and volatile period across all fronts, and we are preparing for the upcoming holiday period,” Zamir said. “We continue to draw lessons, and as I have defined it, the IDF’s fundamental posture is readiness for a surprise attack.”
Zamir said the exercise simulates a multi-front war and tests the military’s preparedness at every level, from the General Staff down to individual units in the field, as well as the readiness and relevance of operational plans.
Commanders across the IDF’s commands, directorates and branches were called in without advance notice, while troops were mobilized and reserve forces tested.
The military said the exercise incorporates lessons from the Oct. 7 massacre and subsequent fighting, examining how those lessons have been implemented throughout the IDF.
Increased movement of troops and military aircraft was expected across the country during the exercise, with the IDF stressing that there was no actual security incident.
Separately, a large-scale exercise led by the IDF’s 80th Division is set to begin Monday in Eilat and the Arava, simulating surprise attacks and infiltrations into Israel by air, sea and land.
The southern drill will test the defense of Eilat and surrounding communities, troop readiness and coordination between ground, air and naval forces. Israel Police and Magen David Adom will also participate.
The Eilat exercise was scheduled in advance as part of the IDF’s 2026 training program and follows a drill in the Golan Heights last week that tested readiness for complex surprise attacks.
The series of exercises comes as the military prepares for the High Holidays amid what Zamir described as a “tense and volatile” period across Israel’s various fronts.
“Anyone who tries to harm the State of Israel and its citizens,” Zamir warned, “will pay an immediate and very heavy price.”
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