IDF trains for surprise attack as Israel remains on high alert ahead of holidays

Israel's defense establishment is on its highest level of alert ahead of Rosh Hashanah, which begins on Friday evening, amid assessments that a security incident could erupt on any of several active fronts. The October 7 massacre continues to resonate strongly within the IDF and the broader defense establishment.Defense Minister Israel Katz's statement that "the Iranians like to attack on Jewish holidays because they hate Jews" may have sounded childish in its phrasing, but it contained a great deal of substance. The defense establishment believes a security incident is highly likely. Among other things, the assessment is based on the state of war in the Arabian Gulf and the fact that all theaters remain active.The National Security Council issued instructions on Sunday urging Israelis abroad to take precautionary measures, including a recommendation that Israeli tourists keep a lower profile in the countries they visit.