Israel Establishes New Cyber Defense Division

Reference News Network, May 25 According to a report from the Israeli newspaper "Jerusalem Post" on May 22, the Israel Defense Forces recently announced the establishment of a new cyber defense division, which will serve as a technical operations center for the development of military information and artificial intelligence (AI) technology systems.

The new division is named the "Alumot Force" and will include soldiers directly involved in combat, technical specialists, information researchers, and AI experts. It will collaborate with other branches of the Israel Defense Forces to provide technical solutions to challenges faced in actual combat. The Israeli military stated in a press release: "The establishment of the Alumot Force indicates that the Israel Defense Forces need to maintain and deepen their information advantage in the operational space and in the competition of learning against the enemy."

Major General Aviad Dagan, commander of the IDF's C4I and Cyber Defense Directorate, said: "Combining soldiers on the battlefield with the advanced technological capabilities of the Israel Defense Forces allows us to achieve many accomplishments in warfare."

He stated: "The battlefield is evolving right before our eyes, which requires us to continuously learn and innovate. The 'Alumot Force' will be dedicated to developing and providing information and AI capabilities for frontline fighters."

An exclusive report from the "Jerusalem Post" in May revealed that the IDF's Matkal unit is primarily responsible for integrating and disseminating AI and "big data" technologies. In the recent conflict with Iran, the Matkal unit played a key role in transforming air force effectiveness.

Colonel Rotem Behi, commander of the Matkal unit, stated in an exclusive interview with the "Jerusalem Post" that a new system managed by the Matkal unit, named LOCHEM, undertook all planning work related to the Iranian attacks, initially coordinating with the relatively new Iranian war special forces of the air force.

Dagan, who previously served as the commander of Israel's Hatzor Air Force Base, was one of two major generals who returned to flying duty during Operation "Lion's Rise" last June and participated in the airstrikes against Iran.

The Israeli news site Walla confirmed that during Operation "Lion's Rise," Dagan and Major General Tal Kelman participated in multiple airstrike operations. Kelman is no longer an active major general in the Israel Defense Forces; he previously served as the chief of staff of the Israeli Air Force. (Translated by Hu Xue)