Full Breakdown
Israeli Forces Conduct Large-Scale Readiness Drills Near Eilat
9/7/2026, 11:56:03 PM
Core Event: Operation Kadmat Homa and Operation Southern Wind
On September 7, 2026 the Israel Defense Forces’ 80th Division launched Operation Kadmat Homa (“Advancing the Wall”) in the vicinity of Eilat and surrounding areas. The exercise involved the division’s full complement of ground, air, naval and security units. Simultaneously, the Israel Police’s Southern District carried out Operation Southern Wind, overseen by Southern District Police Commander Haim Bublil and District Commander Alon Kalfon. Both drills were described as “readiness” operations designed to test rapid, coordinated responses to complex, large-scale attacks modeled after the October 7 massacre.
Background & Context
The drills follow the IDF’s earlier announcement of Operation Dawn 2.0, a surprise exercise aimed at assessing the military’s ability to confront mass-casualty attacks ahead of the High Holy Days. The current exercises are explicitly linked to lessons drawn from the October 7 2023 assault, with the IDF stating that the goal is to improve capabilities and readiness for any future “October 7-style” surprise attacks.
Official Statements & Responses
The Israel Defense Forces reported a noticeable increase in the movement of security personnel, aircraft, naval vessels and vehicles in the Eilat area and along Israel’s eastern border during the drills. The Israel Police confirmed its participation under the name Operation Southern Wind and emphasized that the exercises included scenarios such as simultaneous incidents, traffic-route control, public-order maintenance and rapid emergency-service coordination. No security incident occurred during the exercises.
Timeline & Key Dates
- September 7, 2026 – Commencement of the joint IDF and Israel Police readiness drills.
- October 7 (scheduled) – The third anniversary of the October 7 massacre is slated for next month, providing a temporal reference for the drills’ focus on preventing similar attacks.
These coordinated drills reflect Israel’s ongoing effort to bolster defensive readiness in the southern region ahead of the upcoming anniversary of the 2023 attack.
