Strategy and Third-Circle Directorate

Last updated
The insignia of the Strategy and Third Circle Directorate Maagal3.jpg
The insignia of the Strategy and Third Circle Directorate

The Strategy and Third-Circle Directorate is a Directorate in the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, formed in 2020 as part of the then-Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi five-year development plan.

Details

The Directorate is made to concentrate the activity of the IDF in relation to Israel's third circle enemies (those which it doesn't share a border), chief among them being Iran. As such the Directorate is also nicknamed The Iran Command. Heading the Directorate is a senior IDF officer in the rank of Aluf, equivalent to Major general. [1]

With the creation of the Directorate two Divisions, originally of the Planning Directorate, were subordinated to it: The Strategic Division - Responsible for short and long-term strategic planning, and the International Cooperation Division (ICD) - responsible for the IDF relations with foreign armed forces, peacekeeping forces and international organizations. Both divisions are headed by officers in the rank of Tat-Aluf (Brigadier general). [2] [3]

Along with these two divisions, the Directorate includes the Iran Headquarters, led by an officer in the rank of Aluf Mishne (Colonel), responsible for the concentration and coordination of all military efforts in the Iran–Israel proxy conflict. [4] [5]

Serving as Head of the Directorate since September 2023 is Aluf Eliezer Toledano.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israeli Navy</span> Maritime service branch of the Israel Defense Forces

The Israeli Navy is the naval warfare service arm of the Israel Defense Forces, operating primarily in the Mediterranean Sea theater as well as the Gulf of Eilat and the Red Sea theater. The current commander in chief of the Israeli Navy is Aluf David Saar Salama. The Israeli Navy is believed to be responsible for maintaining Israel's offshore nuclear second strike capability.

<i>Aluf</i> Senior military rank of the Israel Defense Forces

Aluf is a senior military rank in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) for officers who in other countries would have the rank of general, air marshal, or admiral. In addition to the aluf rank, four other ranks are derivatives of the word, together, constituting the five highest ranks in the IDF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aviv Kohavi</span> 22nd Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces

Aviv Kohavi was the 22nd Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, having taken the oath of office on January 15, 2019. Before becoming Lieutenant General (Rav-Aluf), he was commander of the Gaza Division, commander of the Northern Command, commander of the Paratroopers Brigade and Military Intelligence Director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Command (Israel)</span> Regional command of the Israel Defense Forces

The Southern Command, often abbreviated to Padam (פד"מ), is a regional command of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It is responsible for the Negev, the Arava, and Eilat. It is currently headed by Yaron Finkelman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces</span> Supreme command of the Israel Defense Forces

The Israeli General Staff or General Headquarters, abbreviated Matkal (מטכ"ל), is the supreme command of the Israel Defense Forces. It is based in the Kirya compound in Tel Aviv.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operations Directorate</span> Military unit

The Israeli Operations Directorate is a branch in the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, established in 1999, alongside the regional commands, the air force and navy. Since June 2021, it is headed by Aluf Oded Basyuk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Planning Directorate</span> Military unit

The Planning Directorate was the central body in the Israel Defense Forces' General Staff whose focus was on strategic and tactical planning, the building of military forces, and military organization of the armed forces. It also served as a planning body for the Ministry of Defense, representing the IDF in various related fields to the Minister of Defense. It comprised the Planning Division, the Strategic Planning and tactical Relations Division, the Centre for Systems Analysis, and the Infrastructure and Organization Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gadi Eisenkot</span> Israeli general (born 1960)

Gadi Eisenkot, also spelt Eizenkot, is an Israeli general and politician from the Israeli National Unity party. He served as the 21st Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces from 2015 to 2019 and from 2023 to 2024, as a minister without portfolio in Israel's unity government. Eisenkot, who grew up in Eilat, pursued maritime studies and later served in the IDF's Golani Brigade. He holds a B.A. in History from Tel Aviv University and a post-graduate degree in Political Science from Haifa University. Married with five children, he resides in Herzliya. One of his sons, Gal, was killed in action during the 2023 Israel-Hamas war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IDF Spokesperson's Unit</span> Israeli military unit

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit is the unit in the IDF Operations Directorate, responsible for information policy and media relations. The unit is led by the IDF Spokesperson, a brigadier general and member of the General Staff, and by the Deputy Spokesperson, a colonel. Since March 2023 and as of April 2024 the Spokesperson is Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Rothschild (general)</span>

Major General (ret.) (Aluf) Daniel Rothschild is the head of The Institute for Policy and Strategy (IPS), an Israeli Think Tank in the Lauder school of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya (IDC) and is the chairman of the annual Herzliya Conference series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Biton</span>

Aluf Dan Biton is a general in the Israel Defense Forces and the Head of the Technological and Logistics Directorate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orna Barbivai</span> 1st Female Maj. Gen. in Israeli Army

Orna Barbivai is the former Minister of Economy, a retired major general in the Israel Defense Forces, and the former head of its Manpower Directorate. She was the first woman to be made Major-general (Aluf), the IDF's second highest rank. On 1 January 2019, she announced that she would enter politics and seek a Knesset seat on the list of Yesh Atid, which she won as part of the Blue and White slate. Her place in the Knesset was taken by Yasmin Fridman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herzi Halevi</span> Chief of General Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces (born 1967)

Herzl "Herzi" Halevi is the Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, having taken the oath of office on 16 January 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aharon Haliva</span> Israeli Major general (born 1967)

Aharon Haliva is a former Israeli Major general (Aluf) who commanded the Israel Defense Forces' Military Intelligence Directorate. He previously served as the head of the Operations Directorate, the head of the Technological and Logistics Directorate, the head of the operations division in the operations directorate, the commander of the 98th Paratroopers Division, the commander of the paratroopers brigade, and the commander of The IDF Officers' School. He resigned his position on April 22, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eliezer Toledano</span> Israeli major general (b. 1973)

Eliezer Toledano is an Israeli Aluf who served as the commander of the Paratroopers Brigade, the Military Secretary to the Prime Minister, the commander of the Gaza Division and of the Southern Command. Currently, he heads the Strategy and Third-Circle Directorate of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israeli Ground Forces</span> Land service branch of the Israel Defense Forces

The Israeli Ground Forces are the ground forces of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The commander is the General Officer Commanding with the rank of Major General, the Mazi, subordinate to the Chief of General Staff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eran Ortal</span>

Eran Ortal is an Israeli brigadier-general (Res) and military theorist, served as the commander of The Dado Center for Interdisciplinary Military Studies. Ortal is also the founder and editor of the Israel Defense Force Dado Center journal named "Bein Ha-ktavim".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yacov Bengo</span> IDF military personnel

Yacov Bengo is a retired Israeli General who served as the head of the IDF's planning directorate (J8), the commander of the northern core, and held key positions including head of the Doctrine and Training Division (J7), commander of the 36th division, and commander of the 7th brigade within the Israel Defense Forces. His primary focus was in the Armored Corps and the General Staff." Israel Defense Forces. As of August 1, 2023, Bengo is in the private sector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Hagari</span> Israeli military officer (born 1976)

Daniel Hagari is an Israel Defense Forces Rear Admiral (Tat-Aluf) who currently serves as the head of the IDF Spokesperson's Unit. Previously he has served as the commander of the Israeli Navy's operations directorate, the Chief of Staff's assistant, Commander of the Shayetet 13 marine commando unit and the office of the Chief of Staff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamir Hayman</span>

Tamir Heyman is a reserve IDF officer with the rank of Aluf who serves as the director of the Institute for National Security Studies. He has served as the head of Military Intelligence Directorate, as the commander of the Northern Corps, and as the commander of the IDF military colleges.

References

  1. "IDF continues restructuring of general staff to contend with Iran threat". www.israelhayom.com. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  2. Savage, Sean (2020-11-12). "IDF's new Iran and Strategy Directorate takes 'big picture' approach". JNS.org. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  3. Limor, Yoav (2021-01-14). "IDF crafting new options to counter Iranian threat". Cleveland Jewish News. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  4. Savage, Sean (2020-11-12). "IDF's new Iran and Strategy Directorate takes 'big picture' approach". JNS.org. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  5. Limor, Yoav (2021-01-14). "IDF crafting new options to counter Iranian threat". Cleveland Jewish News. Retrieved 2023-11-04.