Senior IDF officer: 1,000 days since Oct. 7 changed how Israel fights its enemies

A senior Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) officer has declared that 1,000 days have passed since the October 7th attacks, a period that has irrevocably altered Israel's approach to confronting its enemies. The officer, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of his operational role, stated, "As a middle-ranking officer in the IDF, I look at the commanders above me and below me, and I tell you, we have changed. I am not the same person, and the army is not the same army it was 1,000 days ago."

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As a middle-ranking officer in the IDF, I look at the commanders above me and below me, and I tell you, we have changed. I am not the same person, and the army is not the same army it was 1,000 days ago.

This transformation is characterized by a new mindset where "there is no such thing as no response," a stark contrast to the past. The officer cited a recent operation where a terrorist was eliminated on the outskirts of Nabatiya, an action that would have been unthinkable under previous ceasefire considerations. The IDF now prioritizes immediate action, regardless of potential enemy responses. This proactive stance is part of a broader strategy to establish security belts and strategic depth by operating deep within enemy territory, moving away from a purely border-defense model.

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The way we look today at an emerging threat, our approach toward the enemy is different. Today there is no such thing as no response. That thinking is different from before, when with all kinds of matters like this we would simply walk away.

The IDF has reportedly captured about 70% of the Gaza Strip, secured areas in the Syrian Golan Heights, and established a buffer zone in southern Lebanon. The situation with Jordan is described as more complex, with a new 96th Division established on the eastern border to manage threats from Palestinian refugee camps. This division operates with broad operational control, focusing on systemic processes and comprehensive responses to emerging threats, a significant upgrade from the tactical focus of past regional brigades. The IDF now distinguishes between infiltration threats and those posed by missiles, rockets, drones, or lone terrorists.

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Just today, an hour ago, there was an elimination of a terrorist on the outskirts of Nabatiya. In the army of the past, we would not have dared attack him because there was a ceasefire, and maybe they would respond. Today? It does not matter if they respond.