IDF chief instructs military to increase readiness across all fronts ahead of Yom Kippur

The IDF is preparing for Yom Kippur by reinforcing forces across all fronts, under the direction of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir.

Additional reinforcement companies will join troops already deployed across the Northern, Central, and Southern Commands, with a senior commander stationed in each sector throughout the holiday.

The Air Force will operate with a larger number of armed aircraft, while the Navy will increase the number of missile boats at sea and strengthen its routine security presence along Israel’s borders.

Reserve companies will also be reinforced and can move between commands if needed. General Staff-level alert statuses will be established according to developments in each sector. In the Home Front Command, a major general on duty will be present at headquarters, and each district will have a district commander on duty.

The IDF stressed that these forces are being added to the forces already deployed in each sector and are not replacing the existing deployment.

Zamir raised West Bank alert level ahead of High Holy Days

The Yom Kippur preparations follow Zamir's announcement at the end of August that the alert level in the West Bank had been raised ahead of the holiday period amid heightened tensions in the area. He instructed the military to prepare the active units and battalions for reinforcement missions and said there would be no operational pauses or reductions in combat forces during the holidays.

The IDF will remain on multi-front readiness, he added.

The military also reinforced forces on Yom Kippur two years ago amid the war and heightened security tensions. Hours before the fast began, the IDF decided to reinforce the Central Command with several combat companies to strengthen the defense of communities and the security barrier, while preparing for various scenarios in the area.