JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israel’s Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, visited an Arrow missile defense battery Thursday evening to review operational readiness and participate in a simulated missile attack exercise, the Israel Defense Forces said.

Accompanied by the commander of the Aerial Defense Array, Brig. Gen. K., and other senior officers, Zamir observed the battery’s response to a hypothetical ballistic missile scenario targeting Israel.

In remarks to commanders and troops, Zamir emphasized the IDF’s constant vigilance.

“It is important that every civilian in Israel knows that the IDF is constantly prepared to defend the State,” he said. “We adjust our readiness in accordance with a responsible and measured situational assessment.”

He added that “the Israeli Air Force, together with the rest of the IDF, serves as the protective shield for our civilians and a guarantor of our security.”

The visit to the Arrow system — Israel’s long-range ballistic missile interceptor, developed jointly with the United States — comes amid heightened regional tensions, including ongoing missile threats from groups like Yemen’s Houthis and potential escalations involving Iran.

The Arrow battery forms the uppermost tier of Israel’s multi-layered air defense network, which also includes Iron Dome for short-range rockets and David’s Sling for medium-range threats. The system has been actively used in recent years to counter ballistic missile attacks.

Zamir stressed the need to bolster preparedness across various scenarios in the aerial defense arrays.

“The IDF remains prepared to defend the civilians of the State of Israel and will act decisively to thwart threats across all arenas,” the IDF statement said.

Zamir, who assumed the role of chief of staff in March 2025, has focused on enhancing military readiness and incorporating lessons from ongoing conflicts as Israel navigates a complex security environment.