Gallant warns of ‘challenges we’ve never known before’ in future war with Iran-backed groups

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (left) sits with the chief of the IDF Home Front Command, Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, at the unit's headquarters in Ramle, June 5, 2023. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (left) sits with the chief of the IDF Home Front Command, Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, at the unit's headquarters in Ramle, June 5, 2023. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warns that Israel will face “challenges the likes we have never known” during the next potential war with Iran-backed terror groups, like the Lebanese Hezbollah.

“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,” says Gallant in remarks provided by his office.

The remarks are made as Gallant visits the IDF Home Front Command headquarters in the central city of Ramle, as the military conducts a large-scale, two-week drill simulating a multi-front war.

The drill, dubbed Firm Hand, is mostly focused on Israel’s northern frontiers with Lebanon and Syria, as well as Iran.

“The function of the home front, at all its levels, has great importance and a decisive role. As in any arena, even on the home front, we are committed to thorough and early preparations, for optimal performance in an emergency,” Gallant says.

“We must prepare for the most severe scenarios, in which we will have to face many challenges. Only the successful functioning of the home front… will allow the IDF and the defense establishment to fulfill the tasks on the frontier,” he adds.

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