IDF chief vows to keep crushing Hezbollah, honors Druze heroes

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reaffirmed Israel’s unwavering alliance with the Druze community during an Eid al-Adha visit, while delivering a clear message to Hezbollah: the IDF will continue striking its terrorist infrastructure with full force.

Speaking after a visit to southern Lebanon, Zamir said he witnessed Israeli troops in action against Hezbollah, stressing that the military remains determined to eliminate threats and protect Israeli civilians. “We continue to act decisively against our enemies,” he said, as fighting along the northern front intensifies.

The Druze community has stood shoulder to shoulder with Israel since the state’s founding, with generations of Druze soldiers serving and falling in defense of the Jewish state. Thousands have served in the IDF, Border Police, intelligence agencies, and security forces, forging one of Israel’s strongest and most enduring alliances through shared sacrifice, loyalty, and bloodshed on the battlefield.

Describing the bond between the IDF and the Druze community as a “brotherhood forged in blood, sacrifice, and shared service,” Zamir paid tribute to fallen Druze heroes, including Col. Ihsan Daqsa and Lt. Col. Salman Habaka. He praised the community’s contribution across every level of the military, declaring that the Druze are an inseparable part of Israel’s strength, resilience, and security.