IDF chief Herzi Halevi to resign in March, cites military failure on October 7

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi, on Tuesday, sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announcing that he would resign on March 6 after two years and two months in office, about 10 months earlier than the standard three-year term.

Halevi said he is resigning in keeping with his promise since October 2023 that he would take responsibility for the October 7, 2023 failure in which Hamas invaded southern Israel.

Despite that failure, Halevi noted his and the IDF's recent successes, including against Hezbollah in Lebanon, against the Assad regime in Syria, against Iran, and in forcing Hamas into a hostage exchange deal that started this week.