IDF chief: Thwarting Iran entrenchment in Syria our ‘central effort’ last year

The prime focus of the Israel Defense Forces over the past year has been preventing Iranian forces from establishing a permanent presence in Syria, the IDF chief says.

According to IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, the military has seen a number of victories on this front, though they were largely out of the public eye.

“Over the past year, the campaign to prevent Irnaian entrenchment north of the country was the central effort of the Israel Defense Forces, which led to many operational achievements, most of which were hidden from view,” Eisenkot says at an event for the Ametz Lochem (Adopt a Fighter) project.

The army chief says the military will continue to prevent Iran from establishing a permanent military presence in Syria.

“We will continue to act to provide security and a feeling of security, to strengthen our deterrence [against Israel’s enemies] and our preparedness in order to allow the state to develop and grow in security,” he says.

The IDF chief also eulogizes Staff Sgt. Aviv Levi, who was shot dead by a Gazan sniper on Friday — the first Israeli soldier killed by an attack from the Strip since the 2014 Gaza war. “His determination, heroism and understanding of the importance of combat service — these are a testament that he left behind and for which every soldier must act,” he says.

— Judah Ari Gross