Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir addressed graduating naval commandos Tuesday evening, marking the imminent arrival of a new submarine while assessing both the military's achievements and ongoing security challenges.
Zamir opened his remarks by announcing that Israel's sixth submarine, the INS Dragon, is currently making its way through the Mediterranean Sea toward Israeli waters. "In just a few days it will enter the port where we now stand, symbolizing more than anything the transformation our naval arm has undergone this past year, becoming a powerful strategic force capable of reaching any target in the Middle East and beyond," the chief of staff said.
The IDF leader reflected on what he described as an unprecedented period of conflict. "For more than a thousand days, the State of Israel has been engaged in a prolonged, unprecedented, multi-front campaign for our existence in our land," Zamir said. "A campaign that began on October 7th, in which we moved from defense to offense and from failure to victory."
Zamir outlined Israel's strategic accomplishments, noting that the military has "removed and distanced existential threats that were built against us over years" and acted decisively toward the full release of all hostages, both living and deceased. He emphasized a fundamental shift in Israel's security doctrine: "There is no containment, there is initiative to remove threats in advance."
The chief of staff detailed the navy's role across multiple theaters, from supporting ground forces in nearby areas to leading independent operations in distant zones. "In Bab al-Mandeb, in the heart of Beirut, in Lebanon's ports, and off the Gaza coast, we proved that the IDF's long arm is powerful, determined, and reaches everywhere to strike those who seek our harm," he said.
