Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir officially assumed the role of the 24th Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), succeeding Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi.
In one of his first statements as chief, Zamir announced that 2025 would be a “year of war” with a primary focus on the Gaza Strip and Iran, signaling a continuation and escalation of Israel’s military strategy amid ongoing regional tensions.
This declaration, reported by multiple mainstream outlets, underscores Zamir’s intent to prioritize these fronts while restructuring the IDF’s approach to meet evolving security challenges.
According to The Times of Israel, Zamir made this statement during a meeting with the IDF General Staff Forum on March 6, 2025, shortly after his appointment ceremony in Tel Aviv.
He emphasized that the IDF would concentrate efforts on Gaza, where the conflict with Hamas remains unresolved, and Iran, viewed as a strategic threat due to its nuclear ambitions and support for proxy groups like Hezbollah.
Zamir stressed that the military would also aim to “preserve achievements and deepen them in other arenas,” hinting at a multi-front approach that could include Lebanon and the West Bank.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Zamir, a seasoned officer with 38 years of service, framed “victory” as a core value for his tenure, contrasting it with what he described as the IDF’s recent focus on “relative victory or deterrence.”
This shift in rhetoric suggests a more aggressive posture, particularly toward Hamas and Iran. Zamir also highlighted the moral imperative of returning hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, a priority he underscored by placing their photos in his office until their release—a detail noted by both The Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post.
Zamir’s appointment follows a tumultuous period for the IDF, marked by Lt. Gen. Halevi’s resignation in January 2025 over the military’s failure to prevent Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, which killed over 1,200 Israelis and saw more than 250 taken hostage.
Halevi’s exit, reported widely, including in analyses by The Times of Israel, came amid public and political pressure for accountability.
Zamir, previously the Director General of the Ministry of Defense, was selected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz to steer the IDF through this critical juncture.
In his initial moves as chief, Zamir ordered significant structural changes within the IDF, as detailed by The Jerusalem Post.
He dissolved the IDF Strategy and Iran Command, redistributing its functions across other units, a decision that has sparked debate about its implications for preparedness against Iran’s nuclear program.
Additionally, he established a new tank brigade and tasked Maj. Gen. (res.) Sami Turgeman with reviewing the IDF’s internal probes into the October 7 failures, signaling a commitment to transparency and reform.
Mainstream coverage has framed Zamir’s declaration within the broader context of Israel’s security challenges.
The Times of Israel noted that his focus on Gaza aligns with ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, which remain fragile as of March 2025.
Meanwhile, his mention of Iran reflects heightened tensions following Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets in Syria and Lebanon over the past year, as well as concerns over Tehran’s nuclear advancements.
While major outlets like Reuters and AP News have not yet published standalone articles on Zamir’s exact statement by March 9, 2025, their prior reporting on Israel’s conflicts with Hamas and Iran provides a backdrop for understanding the stakes of his announcement.
Zamir’s rhetoric has drawn attention beyond Israel.
Middle East Monitor, while not a traditional Western mainstream source, reported on March 7, 2025, that his “year of war” declaration has raised alarms in the region, particularly given Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, which have killed over 41,000 Palestinians since October 2023, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The international community, including the United Nations, has repeatedly called for de-escalation, though Zamir’s statements suggest Israel is bracing for prolonged conflict.
As Zamir settles into his role, his leadership will be tested by immediate challenges: securing the release of remaining hostages, managing potential escalations with Iran, and addressing domestic calls for military reform.
His declaration that 2025 will be a “year of war” sets a stark tone, one that mainstream news outlets will likely continue to dissect as events unfold in this volatile region.
