IDF Northern Command

A Hezbollah poster and rocket launchers are seen in a mock Lebanese village as part of an IDF training program in September 2019. (Israel Defense Forces)

September 26, 2019, 7:23 pm

With mock Lebanese village and VR goggles, IDF primes to fight Hezbollah

Military holds week-long training session aimed at preparing senior commanders for battles in Lebanon

By Judah Ari Gross

Illustrative photo of Israeli artillery on the Lebanese border, January 28, 2015. (IDF Spokesperson)

August 29, 2019, 9:24 pm

As tensions spike in north, IDF cancels leave for combat brigades

After Hezbollah threat of reprisal for Israeli strikes, Northern Command chief warns, ‘If an IDF soldier is so much as scratched, our response will be harsh’

By TOI staff

Sympathizers of the Shiite Hezbollah terror group gather to watch the transmission on a large screen of a speech by the movement's leader Hasan Nasrallah, in the town of Al-Ain in Lebanon's Bekaa valley on August 25, 2019. (AFP)

August 27, 2019, 1:03 pm

Netanyahu warns Hezbollah, Lebanon to calm down, be careful amid attack fears

Prime minister also cautions Iran general Qassem Soleimani as troops in north brace for promised retaliation from terror group; US said to send message to Beirut to cool tensions

By TOI staff

Brigadier-General Rafi Milo, commander of the 91st Galilee Division (right), awards a citation to Major Y of the Engineering Corps for his part in Operation Northern Shield. (IDF)

August 16, 2019, 10:45 am

IDF general penalized for taking troops on unauthorized tour of Hezbollah tunnel

Brig. Gen. Rafi Milo admits to ‘error in judgement,’ will be denied a promotion for 3 years after leading midnight excursion inside Lebanese territory

By TOI staff

Soldiers from the Maglan reconnaissance unit take part in a training exercise in Cyprus in October 2018. (Israel Defense Forces)

June 24, 2019, 8:55 pm

IDF soldiers accidentally open fire on nearby troops during exercise

Maglan force deployed to border last week unwittingly entered live-fire zone of nearby exercise; none hurt

By TOI staff

Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Amir Baram, center, awards a certificate of appreciation to Yisrael and Orit Klausner, whose son, Ohad, was killed on July 26, 2006, in the Second Lebanon War, during a ceremony in May 2019. (Israel Defense Forces)

May 8, 2019, 3:07 pm

13 years on, soldier earns posthumous honor for saving comrades in 2006 battle

Northern command presents award to parents of Staff Sgt. Ohad Klausner, who was killed in Second Lebanon War’s Battle of Bint Jbeil

By Judah Ari Gross

This file photo provided on October 20, 2017 by the government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media shows Iran's army chief of staff Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, left, looking at a map with senior officers from the Iranian military as they visit a front line position in the northern province of Aleppo, Syria. (Syrian Central Military Media, via AP)

November 20, 2018, 5:45 pm

IDF says its efforts to keep Iran from Syrian foothold are succeeding

Military chief says Islamic Republic’s capabilities ‘far’ from what they sought, army will continue to counter Iranian attempts to establish permanent presence

By Judah Ari Gross

Surveillance footage released by the IDF that it says shows a group of armed jihadist fighters in southern Syria approaching the Israeli border on August 2, 2018. (courtesy: IDF)

August 2, 2018, 1:20 pm

IDF: Airstrike kills 7 IS gunmen who crossed from Syria into Israeli territory

Army says attackers were 650 feet past ceasefire line but had not crossed main Golan Heights border fence; military later retrieves explosive belts, Kalashnikov rifle at scene

By Jacob Magid and AFP

IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot, center-right, meets with senior officers from the Northern Command amid concerns of potential Iranian missile strike against northern Israel on May 9, 2018. (Israel Defense Forces)

May 9, 2018, 5:53 pm

IDF chief tours tense northern border amid fears of Iranian strike

Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot hears ‘situational assessment’ from commanders along Syrian frontier, meets with local leaders; visit follows call by army to open area’s bomb shelters

By Judah Ari Gross

March 2, 2018, 7:51 am

Noam Tibon

Iran is not going anywhere

Teheran is partnering with Russia to create a new front against Israel from Syria

The IDF's 188th Armored Brigade takes part in a large exercise in northern Israel meant to simulate war in Lebanon in February 2018. (Israel Defense Forces)

February 22, 2018, 5:19 pm

IDF simulates war in Lebanon, amid tensions with Iran, Hezbollah

Reservist, conscript brigades take part in large-scale exercises along the Lebanese border to ‘improve preparedness on the northern front,’ army says

By Judah Ari Gross

From left, incoming head of the IDF's 210th 'Bashan' Division, Brig. Gen. Amit Fisher; head of the Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Yoel Strick; and outgoing head of the 210th Division, Brig. Gen. Yaniv Assur, salute during a ceremony in the Nafah Army Base on the Golan Heights on February 11, 2018. (Israel Defense Forces)

February 11, 2018, 5:33 pm

IDF: We ‘will not allow’ Iranian entrenchment in Syria

Incoming head of Golan Heights division says he will prepare reservists for ‘the test of war’ amid ongoing tensions

By Judah Ari Gross

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, center, speaks with IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, right, as the head of the Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Yoel Strick, right, watches on, during a visit to a large IDF drill in northern Israel on September 12, 2017. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)

September 12, 2017, 5:28 pm

Liberman warns Hezbollah next war will end with ‘decisive’ Israeli victory

Defense minister says army’s largest exercise in 19 years is crucial for preparedness, sends a message to enemies

By Judah Ari Gross

Soldiers run to a helicopter during an exercise in northern Israel simulating a war with the Hezbollah terrorist group in September 2017. (Israel Defense Forces)

September 12, 2017, 12:36 pm

Simulating war with Hezbollah, IDF looks to avoid past mistakes

After war games with mock terrorist ‘killing sprees’ in Israeli communities and a counterattack in southern Lebanon, army bringing to a close its largest drill in 19 years

By Judah Ari Gross

IDF soldiers prepare for the 'Light of the Grain' exercise, the army's largest in 20 years, on September 4, 2017. (Israel Defense Forces)

September 4, 2017, 8:02 pm

Thousands of troops to stage mock war with Hezbollah in largest drill in years

Tens of thousands of soldiers as well as ships and aircraft will take part in 10-day exercise from Tuesday; army says timing unconnected to current Iran tensions

By Judah Ari Gross