How the IDF Shares Two Years of Combat Experience in Five Days

Tuesday morning, the air at the National Land Training Center (NLTC) is arid, sand blows in the wind, and the sound of weapons echoes from all directions. Still, the familiar landscape looks a little different this time: instead of khaki and tactical gear, you see camouflage-patterned uniforms, brown army boots, and patches displaying a variety of flags from countries around the world.

Each of them came from a different part of the globe, and yet they all share something in common: until now, they knew about the war in Israel mainly through media headlines and reports. But over the past week, they have begun to learn about it from a different angle — closer than ever before.

More than 100 senior commanders, researchers, and military academy representatives from 19 different countries came to Israel as part of a joint seminar planned and carried out by the Land Forces and the Foreign Relations Branch. Over five days, IDF representatives presented them with the most significant capabilities and tactics the army has developed over the past two years across various combat arenas.

The participating countries are: the USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, Finland, India, Greece, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Austria, Estonia, Japan, Morocco, Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia.

“The seminar was structured as a gradual progression into the war,” begins Major S., head of the Planning and Protocol Section for Foreign Relations in the IDF, and one of the commanders responsible for organizing the conference. “On the first day, for example, we addressed the events of October 7 and their consequences. We spoke openly about the period in which we were unable to function properly. From that point, we moved forward day by day — how we approach and prepare for a maneuver, how we build strength while still fighting, and what lessons we can pass on to our partners overseas.”

On Multiple Fronts and the Principle of “Combined Combat”

“In my opinion, the world of training and exercises in the IDF is the heart of the seminar,” says Lt. Col. A., the intelligence officer of the training center and one of those who planned and carried out the third day. “Here, we see not only what we learned from the war, but also how that knowledge is translated into innovative and unique exercises that influence maneuvering on the battlefield — now and in the future.”

There, in the dunes around Tze’elim, a great deal of movement unfolds before the eyes of the various armies: tanks climb along the roads, infantry forces deploy between buildings, combat helicopters and a range of drones fly overhead, and shells are fired. The members of the delegation watch with interest. “The world talks a lot about ‘combined combat.’ Here, they see exactly what it looks like in practice,” emphasizes Lt. Col. A.

Another point of emphasis is showing how the forces are prepared for combat in the northern sector after an extended period in the south. “From March to September 2024, we trained around 20 brigades here,” the intelligence officer states. “Many of them arrived at the end of the three-week maneuver in Gaza with a high level of capability — but additional adjustments and preparations were required for the specific combat conditions in Lebanon.”

The difference between the two sectors, he points out, is significant and visible on the ground: the terrain in the north is more mountainous and dense, and the enemy operates in a more systematic way, employing long-range anti-tank weapons and various technological capabilities, with a particular emphasis on rocket and mortar threats. “In simple terms, our job was to adapt the training to the mission.”

To this end, a particularly intensive series of training exercises was developed. “On a terrain simulation as close as possible to the brigade’s mission, we put together a comprehensive training program: every week, forces would arrive and train the entire brigade for several days,” says Lt. Col. A. “Almost 80% of the platoons that maneuvered in Lebanon had previously trained here in the IDF. This is a classic example of learning that quickly moves from paper to the battlefield.”

At the conference, participants learned not only about the northern sector, but also about the complex operations carried out as the ground maneuvers began. “Our first goal in the war was to achieve maximum readiness before entering Gaza,” says the commander, “and as we advanced, we adapted based on lessons learned from both the fighting and the training: dealing with explosive devices, collapsing buildings, and other threats faced by the forces.”

The drones and robots drew particular attention — unsurprisingly, the commanders from the foreign armies were intrigued. “We explained to them the ‘exposure-attack’ capabilities: using technological tools as ‘eyes’ to identify a target, and then as a means to neutralize it,” he says, adding, “We also presented robotic capabilities used in underground warfare — a concern for armies worldwide, and an area in which we have gained more experience than any other force.”

Indeed, throughout the comprehensive display, the interest, curiosity, and even surprise on the faces of the visiting officers was evident. And suddenly, the notebooks they had received at the start of the day were filled with indecipherable notes, while questions in foreign languages began flying through the air.

On Simulations and Maintaining Competence

When the display ended, the delegations moved to the simulator complex. “One of the needs that arose during the war was to train intelligence and fire personnel together as a complete team — not as two separate fields,” explains Lt. Col. A. “Essentially, we take a specific terrain route, feed it operational scenarios from units across all theaters, and allow all forces to share information and practice operational processes.”

The guests also toured logistics and medical stations. “The prolonged war taught us that the challenge is not only how to strike a target, but also how to sustain the forces over time,” explains Major S. “We were asked a lot about maintaining readiness and how the logistical framework is adapted to the terrain. These are aspects that have been tested almost every day over the past two years.”

“Everyone who came here became, in one way or another, an ambassador of ours to their country.”

In the afternoon, the delegations departed the training center for the Gaza envelope. Up until that moment, the day’s activities had seemed purely professional — but there, an additional, more personal dimension came into play.

“In the morning, they saw the ‘routine of war’ — in the Gaza envelope and at Nova, they understood how it began,” explains Major S. “For most of them, these places had, until now, appeared mainly in reports and headlines. After hearing from those who live here and experienced everything firsthand, they may now begin to grasp the terrible events that occurred.”

As they move through the photos, faces, and names of the fallen — each one a world unto themselves — the composed image of the serious military officers begins to crack. They take a deep breath and walk through the area of the gathering that turned into a tragedy, when one of the officers conveys with a look that says it all: “Suddenly, I understand the horrors that happened here.”

If we look deeper, behind this week’s planning there is much more than just presenting combat strategies and technological developments. According to Major S., this is, in every sense, a national and informational mission. “We aim to convey the right message about our challenges and how we address them. Everyone who came here has, in one way or another, become an ambassador of ours to their country.”

At the same time, this week serves as a window into future collaborations: the IDF is already planning large international exercises for the coming years, both in Israel and abroad. “The seminar is not the end of the story,” says Lt. Col. A., confident in the positive reactions and interest the conference sparked among the delegates. “It is another step in the process of sharing our experience — and also learning from it ourselves.”