IDF's Commander Training chief: International officials have complimented the IDF's "use of precise warfare to maximize only striking those who need to be struck."

The around 130 foreign military officials visiting IDF installations and receiving classified briefings about IDF tactics can become “ambassadors” on behalf of Israel in their home countries, Commander of IDF Commander Training Col. “A” told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.

The foreign military officials are from the US, Canada, England, France, Germany, India, Morocco, Finland, Greece, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Austria, Estonia, Japan, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia.

Although the basic goal during their visit this week is to share useful military tactics and technologies with them, there is also a not-so-secret goal of increasing the foreign militaries’ understanding of Israel’s narrative and tactics regarding the 2023-2025 Middle East war.

A said that the foreign military officials have been impressed by the IDF’s presentations and discussed incorporating its tactics.

“There is no question that this is a major achievement. They will go back to their country having seen how we fought. They can now pass on the details: how Gaza looks, what happened at the Nova [Music] Festival, and how the IDF conducted its invasion within an urban area, as well as the challenges of evacuating civilians.”

He said that the officials have complimented the IDF’s “use of precise warfare to maximize only striking those who need to be struck.”

Continuing, he stated that many of the visiting officers were “combat officers who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, so they understand the complexities, and when they see what we did, they say they will learn from this for urban warfare.

“This is a professional approach and understanding the complexities of still needing to win despite the urban and tunnel-related challenges.”

There are some differences between the foreign military officials’ experience and current challenges versus those being faced by Israel.

Israel's challenges can help prepare Europe for Russia rendezvous

When the Post embedded with the officials and the IDF on Tuesday, many officials talked about turning back the clock to emphasize a large-scale army, maneuvers, and tactics in case Russia ever invaded deeper into Europe, not just Ukraine.

A agreed, saying that every military must prepare for their own unique threat scenarios, whether in the US, Germany, or other nations.

“They need to build their own forces and to ask what aspects of the conflict are similar and what are different: the distance factor, the use of drones.

“Israel used drones and technology well against Hamas. Hamas also used technology against us. They [foreign officials] need to take what they can and apply it to their situations, since urban warfare is unique.”

Still, A said that anyone who faces tunnel warfare must face “similar dilemmas and must evaluate what the obstacles are and who the enemy is and then develop a strategy.”

Pressed that it may be harder for some foreign officials who face less terrorism than Israel to understand the Jewish state’s challenges, A said this trip will help them understand that Israel can’t exist without fully defending itself from “terror groups, which are mini militaries and which build deep sources of weaponry and capabilities, such as with Hamas and Hezbollah.”

These are groups he noted who sit on Israel’s border and “whose whole purpose is to destroy the State of Israel.”

Rather, he stated, “The IDF must deal with it, which is very different from a legitimate state building an army for defense purposes and to help maintain control of its territory.”

Morocco's participation in visits to IDF bases an 'advantage'

In addition, A discussed the participation of Morocco, a member of the 2020 Abraham Accords with Israel, noting, “These are very important relations. Any country which wants peaceful relations will be invited to be a friend, but building relations beyond peace, a serious partnership, this is an advantage – it helps them and it helps us.”

A said that he and other officials have worked on this week’s program for months, which involved gathering the lessons of October 7 as well as those in the ensuing Israel-Hamas War.