Overview
- IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir told a pilots’ graduation that in recent weeks hundreds of Israeli Air Force aircraft have been kept on immediate takeoff alert and that Israel is closely monitoring Iran and Lebanon and prepared to respond with "overwhelming force."
- Zamir said the IAF has achieved air superiority that allowed it to carry out surprise strikes against senior Iranian regime and military targets and to operate freely across multiple arenas.
- He described close operational integration with the United States military, saying Israeli and U.S. aircraft flew "wing-to-wing" under joint procedures that enhanced Israel’s multi-theater strike and defensive capabilities.
- Zamir outlined deepened air–ground integration during the campaign, noting fighter jets and attack helicopters carried out thousands of strikes, while transport helicopters moved troops and evacuated wounded directly from front-line areas.
- The chief acknowledged the October 7 failures as a systemic disaster, said the military has investigated and implemented reforms, and tied those changes to a rapid force-building program that adds squadrons, helicopters, aerial refueling and intelligence assets—steps that could sharpen deterrence but raise regional tensions.