Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited the Israel Defense Forces’ Northern Command on Tuesday in the context of the “Firm Hand” multi-front military exercise.
Gallant held a situation assessment together with senior IDF officers.
The two-week drill, which began on May 29, simulates a war beginning with a clash in the north and spreading to other fronts, including Iran.
During the visit, Gallant issued a stark warning to Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, saying that should it “make a mistake” and ignite a war with Israel, “we will strike them with full force.”
The Israeli defense minister also appeared to address Iran, saying, ”I hear our enemies boasting about weapons they are developing. To any such development, we have an even better response—whether it be on land, in the air, or in the maritime arena, including both defensive and offensive means.”
The statement was an apparent reference to the regime in Tehran recently unveiling a new ballistic missile and hypersonic missile.
“We will know how to defend the citizens of Israel and how to strike our enemies if it is required of us,” said Gallant.
On Monday, he visited IDF Home Front Command headquarters in the central city of Ramle as part of the “Firm Hand” drill. During that visit, he discussed the challenges Israel could face in a multi-front war with Iran and its proxies.
“If, God forbid, a war occurs, the Israeli home front is expected to face challenges the likes of which we have never known in our 75 years of existence. This requires us to be prepared in advance, with optimal preparation,” he said.
