'Magen Oz' Drill
Zamir’s Surprise Check: Chief of Staff Tests Northern Division’s Instant Response to 'Sudden Scenario' on the Border
The IDF completed the intensive, two-day General Staff exercise 'Magen Oz,' simulating a multi-front war to test and improve command readiness and implement the critical lessons learned from the recent war and the failures of October 7.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently completed a major, two-day General Staff exercise named "Magen Oz" (Shield of Strength), a comprehensive drill designed to test and improve the military's readiness for a wide range of multi-front war scenarios. This high-level exercise was led by the Operations Directorate and comes as a direct response to the critical lessons learned from the failures of October 7 and the subsequent prolonged war.
The exercise was comprehensive, involving full cooperation across all major branches and commands, including:
Testing Readiness for Sudden Scenarios
The "Magen Oz" drill involved a sequence of intensive scenarios that tested the performance and cohesion of the General Staff's top headquarters. These scenarios mirrored the complexity of a sudden, large-scale war, including:
The exercise specifically aimed to test the full range of IDF defensive and offensive directives, the conduct of situational assessments across all levels, the activation of readiness protocols, and the immediate response to emerging threats. Chief of Staff LTG Eyal Zamir conducted a surprise evaluation of Division 210, which is responsible for the Syrian and Lebanese borders, to test the readiness of troops for a rapidly developing event.
Learning from the War
The exercise is a critical part of the IDF's commitment to drawing and implementing the severe lessons from the recent war. The military's internal assessment following the drill noted strong performance in applying new operational plans and improved cooperation between military and civilian sectors.
However, the IDF also identified areas for improvement, specifically in:
Chief of Staff Zamir emphasized the importance of this rigorous training, stating that the IDF operates continuously to defend and remove threats through proactive action and that the lessons learned from the October 7 inquiries are being implemented to build a stronger and more prepared military.
In light of the lessons learned, the IDF announced it is set to increase the frequency and intensity of exercises in the near future as part of an effort to improve readiness and operational vigilance. The goal is to ensure that the military is prepared for sustained, multi-front warfare, operating with professionalism and continuous coordination across all domains; air, land, and sea.