Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed Eyal Zamir as Israel’s new Chief of the General Staff, succeeding Herzi Halevi, who resigned on January 21, 2025. Zamir officially assumed the role on March 5, bringing decades of experience within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), including his tenure as Commander of the Southern Regional Command. His close ties to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he served as military secretary between 2012 and 2015, have been widely cited as a key factor in his appointment.

Zamir’s ascension signals a likely hardening of Israel’s strategic posture, particularly regarding Iran –a core issue in Israeli security doctrine. Given his ideological alignment with Netanyahu, he is likely to prioritize preemptive deterrence and expanded military operations against Tehran and its regional proxies.

Zamir has long been an advocate of proactive measures against Iran, seeing it as Israel’s foremost security challenge. His views are well-documented, particularly in his 2022 policy paper for the Washington Institute, “Countering Iran’s Regional Strategy: A Long-Term, Comprehensive Approach.” In it, he articulates a multi-pronged strategy designed to systematically degrade Iran’s strategic depth and military capabilities. His plan encompasses:

• Encircling Iranian proxy networks to restrict their operational mobility.
• Executing targeted operations against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to disrupt command structures.
• Direct military responses to Iranian threats, ensuring continuous Israeli deterrence.
• Sustained economic pressure to weaken Iran’s financial and military resources.
• Psychological and political warfare to fuel internal discontent, aiming to destabilize the regime.

Zamir’s strategic approach aligns closely with Israel’s evolving regional doctrine, particularly following the October 7 attacks and the security challenges of 2024. His longstanding advisory role to Netanyahu suggests that he will play a central role in shaping Israel’s Iran policy moving forward.

As of 2025, Zamir’s first-phase objective –immobilizing Iran by surrounding its proxies– has largely materialized. This sets the stage for a shift toward more direct, high-intensity operations against Iran itself. The next phase is likely to include:

• Targeted assassinations of key IRGC figures inside Iran.
• Sabotage of critical Iranian command structures and infrastructure.
• Precision airstrikes and cyberattacks on strategic assets.

Beyond military action, covert intelligence and influence campaigns may escalate, leveraging disinformation, psychological operations, and support for anti-regime factions to weaken Tehran from within.

Zamir’s first public statement after assuming his role –2025 will be a year of war in which we will focus on Gaza and Iran"– reinforces the likelihood of a more aggressive Israeli posture. His remarks highlight a clear alignment with Netanyahu’s broader strategic approach, further increasing the risk of an escalation in tensions between Iran and Israel.

Recent military developments provide additional indicators of this trajectory:

• Extensive air defense drills of Iran military since January 2025 suggest heightened preparation for regional hostilities.
• The increasing focus on Operation Sadiq Vaad-3 signals operational readiness for direct engagement on the Iranian front.

Taken together, these elements point to an intensification of Israel’s military and intelligence efforts against Iran, potentially pushing the two sides toward a critical threshold in 2025. With Zamir at the helm, Israel’s defense doctrine appears poised to become more aggressive, preemptive, and operationally expansive, increasing the risk of direct confrontation in an already volatile region.