IDF shares lessons from 2 years of fighting with allied militaries of US, UK, Germany and 10 others

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrapped up a week-long seminar on Friday, where it presented lessons learnt from two years of fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip with commanders and officers from several friendly countries.

Over 100 officers from the militaries of the U.S., Canada, Germany, Finland, India, Greece, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Austria, Estonia, Japan, Morocco, Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia participated.

The officers toured several significant sites in the fighting, including the Nova Festival site, and also heard testimonies of survivors of the Hamas invasion as well as those of field commanders who fought over the past two years.

IDF officers lectured about the challenges of subterranean and urban warfare.

“Over the past week, we have stood together before the challenges, dilemmas, and lessons drawn from the complex reality of continuous combat – combat that pushed the IDF, and all of us, to the limits of our capabilities,” the Commander of the Ground Forces, Maj.-Gen. Nadav Lotan, said as he concluded the week.

“The stories you heard, the encounters with the soldiers and commanders, and the professional depth evident in every conversation are a living reminder of the spirit that drives us forward.”

“The IDF does not rely solely on technology, capabilities, and procedures,” he continued. “Our true strength lies in the human spirit – in determination, commitment, and the uniquely Israeli ability to rise, recover, and rebuild even from the deepest fractures. I was moved to see all of you come to learn from the IDF. This seminar enabled us not only to present what we have learned, but also to learn from you.”

Major S., head of the Planning and Protocol Section for Foreign Relations in the IDF, explained that the seminar was structured as a gradual progression into the war.

“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.”

The seminar also included live-action drills by combined forces from the Air Force, artillery, tanks and infantry.

“The world talks a lot about ‘combined combat.’ Here, they see exactly what it looks like in practice,” said Lt.-Col. A., the intelligence officer of the training center.

The IDF also shared lessons for the preparation of large forces for broad ground maneuvers, particularly when the units had just wrapped up periods of fighting in different terrain.

“From March to September 2024, we trained around 20 brigades here,” an intelligence officer said. “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.”

“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,” recounted 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.”

According to Jerusalem Post reporter Yonah Jeremy Bob, some of the foreign officers mainly participated to witness cutting-edge Israeli technologies and consider purchasing them for their own militaries.

“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,” said Lt.-Col. A., 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.”

The IDF also uses advanced simulator technologies to train and prepare troops, including virtual reality electronic glasses.

Lt. Col. A. stated that the IDF is now preparing large-scale international exercises for the coming years to continue sharing its lessons with allied forces.

“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.”

Want to help more people find our reporting from Israel? Leave a quick Google review of our website here.