IDF can now send location-based alerts to phones in case of ‘large-scale’ attacks
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The IDF Home Front Command says it has completed trials with a new system to send location-based public warning messages, and it is now operational.
The new system is based on Cell Broadcast, which is a method of sending short messages to multiple phone users in a defined area. Many other countries have similar systems in place.
The Home Front Command says the system will “enable the receipt of a message in large-scale emergency events, such as rocket fire on Israel.”
The alerts will pop up on a user’s phone without needing to install an app or other previous action. It will sound an alarm with an emergency message.
The Home Front Command says the system doesn’t aim to replace its app or the physical sirens, but rather is intended for “surprise large-scale emergencies.”
