On Wednesday morning, the Kfir Brigade conducted a brigade exercise on the northern border, where cooperation between various arms, land-to-air coordination was practiced, and preparations were made for maneuvering in a complex mountainous terrain – similar to that of Lebanon. The exercise reflects the IDF’s preparations for developments that may come after the double assassination that took place yesterday – of Sid Muhsen (the Hezbollah chief of staff) in Beirut, and of Ismail Haniya (the Hamas chairman) in Tehran. A significant response of the ‘resistance axis’ is expected, and preparations for the defensive and transitional attack are currently underway.
The exercise was attended by several senior officials, including Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, Commander of Northern Command Uri Gordin, Commander of the Training Corps David Zini, as well as other Generals. Towards the end of the exercise, the Chief of Staff addressed the possibility of a maneuver in Lebanon: “We have confidence in our planned moves forward, because our intention against Hezbollah is not to return to October 6. Sid-Muhsen will not be around anymore, but we are also not going to agree for the situation to return to the presence on the border, to 200 meters from Metula, or the nursery, or Rosh HaNikra. The IDF knows how to act and to reach a certain window in a neighborhood in Beirut, it knows how to attack at a certain point in the subsoil, and we also know how to maneuver in very strongly, and you are training on it this week, and this is a very important capability.”
In addition, it is worth noting that the commander of the 98th Division, Lt. Col. Dan Goldfus, is currently finishing his position, and is expected to advance to the rank of champion and double position – the commander of the maneuvering apparatus in the ground wing and the commander of the northern corps. Goldfus is expected to take over the role of Major General Sa’ar Tzur, who has been staffing the positions for 3 years, and is now retiring from the army. The holder of the dual role will be the acting director of the war that will break out on the northern front, if it involves a land maneuver, along with the commander in chief. So far, Division 98 has done a great job in the war, with the destruction of Hamas forces in Khan Yunis and in Jabaliya. Let us hope that Goldfus can bring this powerful offensive spirit to expression on the northern front as well.
