From the Liveblog of
Friday, January 16, 2026
IDF boosts readiness, says no change to Home Front Command guidelines ahead of weekend
Stav Levaton is a military reporter for The Times of Israel
The IDF says it has boosted readiness along all of Israel’s borders in recent weeks as the military continues to monitor regional developments amid heightened tensions with Iran.
“In recent weeks, we have strengthened capabilities and increased readiness along all borders,” IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin says in a video statement released ahead of Shabbat. “The IDF is prepared and ready at all times and on a broad scale, both defensively and offensively.”
Defrin reiterates that IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has been holding ongoing situational assessments and stresses that the military is managing the situation “in a measured, professional and responsible manner,” with forces at “full readiness for a wide range of scenarios.”
Acknowledging heightened public anxiety amid threats of Iranian retaliation in the event of a US attack on the Islamic Republic, Defrin urges Israelis to rely only on official information.
“Rely solely on IDF Spokesperson announcements and official channels,” he says, warning against the spread of rumors that could cause public concern.
He adds that “there is no change to the Home Front Command’s guidelines” going into the weekend, and says the public will be updated “when there is a real need to do so.”
The Times of Israel Community.