IDF marks 78th anniversary with sweeping military updates

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) observed its 78th anniversary on May 26, 2026, coinciding with a series of updates on its operational activities across various fronts. Established shortly after Israel's declaration of independence in 1948, the IDF unified various Jewish fighting forces into a single entity.

In a significant update, the IDF reported killing approximately 600 Hezbollah fighters since the April 17 ceasefire, adding to the 1,800 killed during the height of hostilities prior to that date. On the Gaza front, the military stated it had eliminated 120 Hamas fighters in recent months, primarily in areas near the controlled border.

The IDF also provided figures on its West Bank operations, noting the arrest of over 15,000 terror suspects and the confiscation of more than 400 weapons and 20 lathes used for improvised explosive device manufacturing since the beginning of 2026. The military is actively developing experimental responses to the escalating threat posed by Hezbollah's FPV drones.

Further updates included information from the Home Front Command, which received around 930,000 calls to its emergency line over the past year. The navy reported preventing six flotillas from attempting to break the blockade of Gaza, involving the commandeering of about 120 ships and the arrest of 1,200 individuals. Additionally, the IDF highlighted the use of new electronic and AI systems to rescue approximately a quarter of injured soldiers via helicopter, significantly reducing transport time to medical centers.