National Emergency: Israel Katz orders IDF to join firefight in Jerusalem hills

Defense Minister Israel Katz has directed IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir to immediately deploy military forces to assist in battling the fires raging across the Jerusalem Hills.

As flames continue to spread and threaten populated areas, Katz emphasized the urgency of the situation, calling it a “national emergency” and stressing that saving lives must be the top priority.

“The IDF must concentrate all available resources to support firefighting efforts and bring the fires under control,” Katz said. His directive comes amid soaring temperatures and powerful winds that have intensified the blazes, prompting evacuations and widespread concern.

The Chief of Staff instructed the Home Front Command, the Air Force and all IDF units to assist the police and the fire and rescue services in any way necessary to deal with the fire.

Rescue forces from the Rescue Brigade and the Jerusalem and Central District, together with fire brigades from the Home Front Command, ground fire brigades and fire trucks of the Air Force, together with an aerial photograph aircraft, have been assisting in recent hours in efforts to extinguish the fires in the Jerusalem Hills area and evacuate the residents.

All the forces operate in cooperation with the Israel Police and the fire and rescue forces.