The October 7 massacre shattered Israel’s doctrine of containment. Israel is now shifting to a new paradigm focused on achieving decisive victories in armed conflicts, say military experts Gabi Siboni and Erez Winner.
PM Benjamin Netanyahu recognized the change early in the war, declaring intentions to reshape the Middle East, the former senior officers wrote.
At its core, this renewed doctrine prioritizes the destruction of enemy capabilities over efforts to bolster deterrence, aiming to forge long-term security by eliminating threats.
Recent actions underscore the pivot: in Lebanon, Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah involved targeted strikes on leadership and infrastructure, severely eroding the group’s operational strength.
Similarly, the rapid seizure of a security buffer in southern Syria, coupled with the near-total demolition of Syria’s military arsenal shortly after the Assad regime’s fall, exemplifies this aggressive stance.
The shifting doctrine is aligned with domestic pressure for a strategic reset, as Israelis demand resolute measures to neutralize threats.
However, the updated doctrine cannot rely only on military strength, the former officers say. Blending military power with diplomatic leverage is necessary to ultimately secure “peace through strength.”
Notably, adopting decisive victory as the ultimate objective will reshape Israel’s long-term military planning. Preparing the IDF for future battles will demand more investment in ground forces, advanced technology and AI-driven systems, and multi-front readiness to shorten conflicts and minimize reserve call-ups.
Meanwhile, Israel is already taking steps to boost domestic ammunition production and expand unmanned capabilities.
A more proactive military posture will also require preventive strikes, enhanced intelligence collection, and measures to strengthen defenses to protect the home front, as Israel enters a new era of regional conflict.
