News Digest — 8/11/26
US CENTCOM Chief Attends IDF Operations Forum
IDF Chief of Staff LTG Eyal Zamir convened a senior operational forum on Monday (10th), declaring that the military remains prepared for a rapid return to high-intensity combat even as diplomatic negotiations move forward on Israel’s main fronts.
The forum was attended by the IDF’s senior command and operational commanders at the rank of lieutenant colonel and above and included a multi-front operational and intelligence assessment.
Commanders reviewed developments in the fighting, presented case studies and discussed lessons learned from IDF operations across the various arenas, as well as plans for continued operations.
“We are in a significant period and at a strategic crossroads,” Zamir told the commanders. “The IDF is a fighting military, and we are engaged in a major, prolonged, multi-front operation.”
“Our mission is to shape reality rather than be driven by it, through tactical and operational initiative.”
Zamir noted that diplomatic negotiations are currently underway concerning all of Israel’s principal fronts, and said those talks were made possible by the IDF’s military achievements.
“Diplomatic negotiations are currently underway across all of the main arenas – all of these are the result of the IDF’s historic achievements,” he said. “We must ensure that we fully capitalize on and maximize the achievements of the operations.”
“We are well prepared in defense while maintaining immediate readiness and preparedness to return to high-intensity combat.”
The Chief of Staff said the military is carrying out a systematic and structured operational plan intended to achieve victory.
Since the October 7th massacre, the IDF has proven itself to be a victorious military with a spirit of strength – an operational and productive military,” Zamir said.
He credited commanders and troops throughout the military for changing Israel’s security reality.
“The achievements we have made across all arenas are first and foremost your achievements – the commanders and troops on land, at sea, and in the air, and the personnel in intelligence, communications, logistics, and administration,” he said.
“Together, you led the IDF to significant achievements and changed the security reality.”
Addressing the IDF’s current posture, Zamir described the military as being in an “interim period,” while stressing that forces must remain vigilant against threats on every front.
“The IDF, across all of its units, is in an interim period. We remain vigilant and prepared for all challenges,” he said. “We will keep our ranks united and cohesive in the face of all the threats before us.”
“This is a critical period for the security of the State of Israel, and we will act responsibly accordingly.”
Zamir acknowledged the need to provide troops with opportunities to recuperate following prolonged combat, but warned that this could not come at the expense of operational readiness.
“Alongside the desire to allow the troops time to recuperate, we must not lose our vigilance,” he said.
“We are required to maintain a high level of readiness, be prepared for a rapid return to high-intensity combat, respond quickly to any development, and continue to defend our civilians.”
“Our challenge now is not only to preserve our achievements, but to continue shaping the reality, build our capabilities, and ensure that the IDF is prepared for every scenario.”
During the forum, Zamir hosted US Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper, who addressed the senior commanders and reviewed the strategic partnership between the Israeli and American militaries.
Cooper said the relationship between the two militaries had repeatedly demonstrated its importance during operations and described the partnership as historic and founded on trust, commitment and close cooperation.
According to the IDF, the CENTCOM commander stressed that the military relationship constitutes a significant element in strengthening security and stability throughout the region.
Zamir thanked Cooper for the close cooperation between the two militaries and presented him with a token of appreciation recognizing the partnership.
The Chief of Staff described cooperation with the US military as “unprecedented” and said it serves as a “strategic anchor” for Israel.
Colombia Recognizes Israel’s Sovereignty Over Golan Heights
Colombia has officially recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, becoming the second nation to do so after the United States.
In an announcement published on Monday (10th), the Colombian government cited the territory’s strategic importance to Israel’s security amid persistent regional instability in the Middle East.
The statement said Israel has faced persistent and existential security challenges along its borders for decades, with these threats intensifying significantly in recent years and culminating in the October 7 terrorist attacks.
“Within this regional security context,” Colombia said that maintaining Israeli control and sovereignty over the Golan Heights constitutes an essential component of Israel’s national defense and its ability to protect and safeguard its citizens.
Colombia said the decision reaffirms its commitment to seeking stable and lasting peace in the Middle East.
Colombia is the second nation to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan heights, after US President Donald Trump did so in 2019.
The decision comes shortly after a major change in Colombia’s government following the country’s presidential election. New President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office on August 7, has pledged to restore and strengthen relations with Israel, reversing the policies of former President Gustavo Petro, whose government broke diplomatic relations with Israel in 2024. De la Espriella had pledged during his campaign to restore Colombia’s “historic alliance” with Israel, making a sharp shift in the country’s policy toward the Jewish state.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar commended the decision, calling it “historic,” and thanking President De La Espriella and Minister of Foreign Affairs Omar Bula Escobar.
Sa’ar noted that the decision follows his meeting with the President in Barranquilla, Colombia, last Thursday (6th).
“With this, the President of Colombia has demonstrated, in one of his first decisions in office, his leadership, his values, and his commitment to Israel and Israel’s security,” Sa’ar stated.
“Israel is a small country without strategic depth. Having defensible borders is essential in order to guarantee the existence of the Jewish people in its historic homeland,” he added.
The Israeli Foreign Minister pledged to “continue to act so that more countries join the United States and Colombia in recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan, to which Israeli law was applied 45 years ago.
New Israeli Doomsday Submarine Expands Iran Attack Options
Israel has acquired a new advanced submarine from German defense manufacturer Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), with the vessel’s estimated $635 million price tag reflecting its sophisticated capabilities and potential strategic value in a conflict with Iran.
The submarine, JNS Dajon —whose name means “dragon” in Hebrew—is expected to expand Israel’s ability to conduct long-range operations at sea and provide a strategic safeguard against a potential surprise attack that could temporarily disable portions of the country’s conventional military forces.
Dr. Ehud Eilam, an Israeli national security expert, told Fox News Digital that the submarine could play a particularly important role if Iran launched a major surprise attack against Israel.
“Some of them would have to be at sea, on high alert, around the clock, if Iran suddenly attacked Israel in such a way that would cripple the IDF, including its strategic capabilities.” Eilam said.
“In such a drastic scenario, Israel’s submarine/s that would be at sea could respond,” he continued.
Eilam noted that submarines operating at sea would have an important advantage over vessels and other military assets based at Israel’s Haifa naval facility, which could potentially be targeted in a major attack.
Israel’s other submarines might be in Haifa harbor at the time. They might be attacked and unable to operate. This demonstrates how important it is to always have submarines at sea.”
The JNS Dakon is also significant because of its potential implications for Israel’s ability to strike distant targets, particularly as tensions between Jerusalem and Tehran remain high.
Eilam said the vessel’s larger size compared with Israel’s existing submarines could indicate an effort to expand the range and flexibility of its weapons systems.
“Israel’s new submarine is bigger than others, which suggests Israel wants to have more options, such as increasing the range of the submarine’s missiles so they can reach every target in Iran, even if the Israeli submarine is in the Mediterranean Sea ,” Eilam said.
“That way the submarine does not have to get closer to Iran, which requires crossing the Suez Canal, and this could be very risky, if not impossible in some situations,” he added.
Bribing Hamas Will Not Bring Peace – It Will Finance The Next War – Khaled Abu Toameh
According to a recent report on Israel’s Channel 11, the Gaza Board of Peace is considering paying Palestinian terrorists thousands of dollars in exchange for surrendering their rifles. Participants in the internationally funded program would also be required to renounce violence.
The proposal rests on dangerously flawed assumptions: The first is that Islamist terrorists can be persuaded to abandon jihad (holy war) in exchange for money. The second is that those who surrender weapons will genuinely renounce terrorism.
In 2020, the group’s slain leader, Ismail Haniyeh, proudly revealed that his group had rejected an offer worth $15 billion in development projects for Gaza. The package reportedly included an airport, a seaport, industrial zones, massive economic projects, and the lifting of restrictions imposed by Israel and Egypt. The only condition was that Hamas dismantle its military infrastructure, surrender its weapons and integrate its fighters into civilian institutions.
Haniyeh’s response was: “Our principle is Palestine from the [Jordan] River to the [Mediterranean] Sea,” making clear that Hamas preferred its jihad against Israel over billions of dollars in international investment. Why would anyone believe that paying individual Hamas members a few thousand dollars today would produce a different outcome? It will not. The terrorist group consciously chooses war over prosperity. It refuses to abandon its ideological commitment of destroying Israel.
Anyone still claiming that Oct. 7 was caused by economic hardship should listen to Haniyeh’s admission. Hamas had a choice. It deliberately chose terrorism. Even if Hamas agrees to “store” some heavy weapons, it does not need heavy weapons to massacre civilians. It would continue to possess tens of thousands of automatic rifles. Allowing Hamas to retain small arms means allowing it to preserve its ability to murder again.
Money does not moderate jihadists; it strengthens them. Jihadists do not become peace activists because they receive a pay check. They are driven by ideology and religious extremism. For them, armed jihad is a divine obligation. No rehabilitation seminar can erase decades of indoctrination. (Gatestone Institute)
Israel Making Plans For A Post-America Middle East – Tom O’Connor
Israeli Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis says what worries him most is not the bouts of conflict in the Middle East. It’s a drift in American politics that could one day spell the end of the historic U.S.-Israel alliance, citing recent electoral victories by candidates espousing criticism of Israel. Akunis argued that “the reality is that some people here, for sure, prefer the ayatollahs rather than the American administration…. To prefer your enemies rather than your political opponents, this is something new.”
While it was his “hope that the United States of America will always be with us, we will need to prepare ourselves to be more independent than we used to be,” given the trends he was witnessing.
It’s not just Iran and its predominantly Shiite Muslim Axis of Resistance that Israel sees on its threat radar. An emerging “quartet” comprising the leading Sunni Muslim powers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan is also viewed with deep suspicion. “The ayatollahs are still in Iran. So, we need to resolve this problem, and then we’ll talk about the next challenge,” Akunis said.
It’s those in the West who direct their outrage not toward Iran but Israel that he blames most. “Those people do not say even one word about the ayatollahs, not even one word about their slogan ‘Death to America,’ and not even one word about the Iran massacre [of civilians]. What is it? Gaza, Gaza, Gaza.”
“I can give you an answer about Gaza. Gaza can be like the Emirates, or Bahrain or the Singapore of the Middle East. . No Hamas? Gaza can be prosperous. By the way, like in Lebanon. No Hezbollah? Lebanon can be prosperous.” (Newsweek)
(msn.com)
