IDF Chief of the General Staff in the Southern Command

18.06.25

IDF

“Important and direct lessons were learned from the events of October 7 — we are not waiting, we are preventing threats."

The IDF Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir, held a situational assessment today (Wednesday) at the Southern Command with the Commanding Officer of Southern Command, MG Yaniv Asor, commanders of maneuvering divisions operating in Gaza, and additional senior officers.

The Chief of the General Staff was briefed on the current situation and preparations moving forward, and held discussions with the division commanders.

LTG Zamir emphasized the importance of continued combat operations in Gaza — aimed at returning the hostages and dismantling the Hamas terrorist organization — as part of Israel’s broader multi-front war effort.

Attached are the full remarks of the Chief of the General Staff:

“We are engaged in a very significant operation to remove an existential threat posed to the State of Israel. This is the most serious existential threat we face it is where we are now operating, and it is where we are focusing the IDF’s efforts. We are striking their nuclear program, and we are targeting aspects of the program. It is now clear to all of you that there is a direct line connecting Iran to the entire axis. Striking Iran means striking the axis — from Yemen to every front you are aware of. And in the end, it reaches close here; it reaches Hamas.

Iran is behind arming Hamas, sustaining Hamas, and financing Hamas. That’s why the operation we are conducting in Iran directly affects the situation here as well.

Important and direct lessons have been learned from the events of October 7 — we are not waiting. We are preventing threats. We are not waiting for those threats to materialize to the point where it is too late to address them. This is exactly what we are doing - confronting the nuclear program, confronting the missile program, and reducing the threat.

At the same time, we never forget our mission here — returning the hostages and defeating Hamas. We have not forgotten our hostages. This is a moral imperative. We must bring the hostages home.

I believe that the operation we are conducting there will ultimately influence our ability to achieve better conditions to secure the return of our hostages.

I greatly appreciate what you are doing. I know that you are operating professionally and under significant risk. Regrettably, we have paid a very heavy price in recent days. You must stay committed to the mission. I trust that you will carry it out in the best possible way.”