Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson BG Effie Defrin-August 20, 2025

Good Evening, 
I would like to update you on the activities of IDF soldiers and commanders in the various arenas.
 
While operating in Gaza, we are also continuing offensive and defensive activities on the Lebanese border, in Syria and in Judea and Samaria. We continue to monitor developments in Iran. 

The IDF is in a multi arena war, we are operating and will continue to operate in order to protect our civilians on all our borders.

Even now, IDF troops continue combat throughout the Gaza Strip and on the outskirts of Gaza City as part of Operation "Gideon's Chariots." 

Earlier today, Kfir Brigade troops thwarted a terrorist attack on a brigade post in southern Khan Yunis.
 
The troops identified more than fifteen terrorists who emerged from a tunnel shaft, and opened fire, including RPG fire, at the troops.

In the battle that developed around the post, our troops repelled the terrorists. 
The troops sought contact and engaged the terrorists. 
The troops conducted the battle in cooperation with a tank force, which isolated the area, along with air support.
 
During the battle, nine terrorists were eliminated. We assume that additional terrorists were injured in the attack.
Some of the bodies of the terrorists can be seen lying outside the outpost's embankments.

In the same incident, several terrorists entered a nearby building where our troops were located, the terrorists were eliminated.
We are investigating how this was possible and will draw the necessary lessons.
  
A soldier was seriously injured in the battle. 
I send him my best wishes for a speedy recovery.
 
In accordance with the directives of the political leadership and following the approval of the plans by the Chief of the General Staff, the IDF has begun the next phase of the war, phase 2 of Operation “Gideon’s Chariots”.

The concentration of troops in Gaza City was made possible thanks to the achievements of Operation "Gideon's Chariots." 
Hamas today is not the same Hamas that existed before the operation.

From a military terrorist organization, it has become a battered and bruised guerrilla organization. 
We will deepen the damage to Hamas in Gaza City, a stronghold of governmental and military terror for the terrorist organization. 
We will deepen the damage to the terror infrastructure above and below the ground and sever the population's dependence on Hamas. 

We are not waiting
We have begun the preliminary actions, and already now, IDF troops are holding the outskirts of Gaza City. 
The Nahal and the 7th Brigade, under the command of the 99th Division, are operating on the ground in the Zeitoun area on the outskirts of Gaza City. 
These activities have already brought achievements; in recent days, our troops have located an underground tunnel in which weapons were located inside Gaza City. 
Another effort by the Givati brigade, under the command of the 162nd Division, is operating in the area of Jabaliya. 
Additional troops will join the operation in the near future.
  
As part of laying the groundwork for the continuation of the operation ,the IDF is also establishing a humanitarian effort. COGAT is leading a civilian effort to adapt the humanitarian infrastructure in the southern Gaza Strip to meet the needs of the expected population. We continue to enable assistance to the civilians of the Gaza Strip - and are expanding it. Additional aid distribution centers will be established. This approach will sever the population's dependence on Hamas.

In order to minimize harm to civilians, the IDF will warn the civilian population and allow them to evacuate for their own protection, distancing themselves from the active combat zones. 
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As part of the preparations for the next phase - the Chief of the General Staff has instructed to issue approximately 60,000 reserve orders for the beginning of September.
 
In addition to the orders that will be distributed, we will extend another 20,000 orders to reserve service members in battalions that are already operating today.

At the same time, we are preparing for additional troops in active duty service who will form the basis for the next phase of operations. 
We attach paramount importance to balancing the burden placed on the active duty and reserve troops.

We continue to work to create conditions for the return of the hostages and to ensure that Hamas does not retain the terrorist capabilities it once possessed.

The Southern Command operates shoulder to shoulder with the Hostages and Missing Persons Headquarters - we are doing everything possible to prevent harm to the hostages. 

The hostages are at the forefront of our mind at all times.
 
We will continue to act professionally, we will carry out our missions responsibly, we will implement the optimal operational method that we have formulated.
As we operated in Khan Yunis, Rafah and other places in the Gaza Strip, and in accordance with the goals defined by the political leadership. 

We will continue to operate to ensure security for civilians, the return of the hostages, and the collapse of the Hamas regime.

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