Last week Zina Rakhamilova visited northern Israel to assess preparations for potential large-scale conflict and proxy attacks from Iran. During a press briefing, an IDF major advised Israelis to have faith in the IDF.
In the Jerusalem post opinion pieve Zina states, Initially, I was skeptical of this reassurance. However, the recent events have shifted my perspective. In the early hours of Sunday, the Israeli military conducted a preemptive strike on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after discovering that the Iran-backed terror group was preparing a major assault. A Western intelligence source reported that Hezbollah had programmed thousands of rocket launchers to fire at Tel Aviv at 5:00 a.m. In response, Israel's fighter jets executed over 100 simultaneous strikes, destroying many rocket launchers just minutes before the planned attack.
Had Hezbollah succeeded, the potential for extensive bloodshed and a larger regional conflict was significant. Hezbollah's tactics, including using Lebanese civilians as human shields, aimed to provoke Israel into a broader war. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesperson, highlighted Hezbollah’s positioning near civilian areas and emphasized that there was no valid excuse for their actions.
The IDF has warned civilians in affected areas to move to safety, as a significant week looms ahead. The traumatic events of October 7, when the army's response was perceived as insufficient, had eroded trust in the IDF. Residents of the southern kibbutzim endured long hours in bomb shelters while Hamas terrorists breached the border, leading to severe losses and questions about the army’s effectiveness.
Recent decisive actions by the IDF, including the elimination of key Hamas and Hezbollah figures, have begun to restore confidence. Despite international criticism and calls for a ceasefire, and some reports suggesting the U.S. was not given prior notice of the strikes, the IDF’s proactive measures demonstrate a return to assertive defense. The effectiveness of these actions is helping to rebuild trust in the IDF’s ability to protect Israel.
In summary, Israel is demonstrating a renewed commitment to robust defense against terrorism, reinforcing the belief in its capability to safeguard the nation.
The writer is a social media activist with over 10 years of experience in Israeli and Jewish causes and is the co-founder and COO of Social Lite Creative, a digital marketing firm specializing in geopolitics.