Maj.-Gen. Rafi Milo, Commander of the IDF’s Northern Command, visited Israeli troops along the Israel-Syria and Israel-Lebanon borders to observe military exercises and conduct situational assessments, the IDF announced on Friday.
“The troops are at a high level of readiness, in defense and prepared for developments in the Syria and Lebanon areas,” Milo concluded following a situational assessment carried out with other commanders, according to an IDF press release.
“We will not allow terrorism to establish itself along our borders,” Milo declared, “we will continue to operate with determination and initiative to remove threats and attempts to harm the civilians of the State of Israel even before they develop.”
Ongoing counterterrorism operations in southern Syria
Milo also addressed a recent counterterrorism operation targeting the al-Jamaa al-Islamiya terror organization in Beit Jen, Syria, during which six IDF reservists were injured.
“The reserve troops in the sector, you completed the mission successfully, apprehended the suspects, and advanced to engage under fire,” Milo said, expressing appreciation for the “activity and repeated readiness” of the soldiers. “I wish a full recovery to the injured and hope they return to us soon.”
Milo additionally emphasized that the operation, a part of broad, ongoing counterterrorism operations in Syria, demonstrated “the importance of proactive activity to counter terrorism in the security zone and the value of forward defense.”
“We cannot wait for the enemy to attack; we must be proactive,” he asserted, reaffirming the IDF’s commitment to “continue to stand as a barrier between the residents and the enemy, and we will be the first to identify, respond, and defend.”
Yonah Jeremy Bob, Miriam Sela-Eitam, and Avi Ashkenazi contributed to this report.