IDF chief vows to apply October 7 lessons, pledges to pursue Israel's enemies at military ceremony

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir honored fallen Commando Brigade soldiers at a memorial ceremony in Modi'in, pledging to implement October 7 lessons, strengthen the military, and preemptively eliminate threats to Israel's security.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir addressed a memorial ceremony in Modi'in on Tuesday, honoring fallen soldiers of the Commando Brigade. Zamir praised the brigade as the IDF's "striking fist," highlighting the professionalism of its elite Egoz, Maglan, and Duvdevan units in carrying out complex missions on the front lines and deep within enemy territory. He pledged to implement the lessons of the October 7, 2023 attack, stating that the military is updating its security doctrine and actively translating insights into action. Zamir outlined a strategy centered on preemptively destroying enemy capabilities before threats materialize and pursuing those who seek to undermine Israel's existence. Addressing bereaved families, he emphasized that the memory of fallen soldiers guides their comrades in battle. The ceremony follows Zamir's earlier public commitments to overhaul IDF defense strategy based on the October 7 failures.