Israeli military establishes air operations centre as it prepares for an end to years of calm in the West Bank

Hebrew-language newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israel’s security establishment is increasingly preparing for scenarios of serious escalation in the West Bank, rather than focusing on plans to annex parts of it as called for by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The paper said U.S. President Donald Trump categorically rejected that course during the Jewish holidays, prompting security and military echelons to recommend toning down public rhetoric about annexation for fear of an explosive security situation.

It added that the Israeli military’s leadership in the West Bank, represented by Central Command, expects the end of years of relative calm and has begun establishing a new fires command center similar to those the military has run for years on the Gaza and Lebanon fronts. The center, to be set up at the command headquarters in Jerusalem, will manage airstrikes using the air force and, in exceptional cases, precision artillery, against targets in the West Bank and even along the border with Jordan.

Until recently, operations in the West Bank relied on limited capabilities within local brigades. But under the new plan it will be possible to intensify air operations in the West Bank on an unprecedented scale using fighter jets, attack helicopters and drones, under a single centralized command.

The paper noted that the IDF has, for about two decades, avoided returning to the heavy aerial bombardment seen in the West Bank during the second intifada for fear of reverting to that environment. However, over the past two years — particularly before Oct. 7, 2023 — the air force carried out hundreds of strikes in the West Bank targeting armed groups that were en route to carry out attacks or posed threats to forces on the ground.

The new center will include dozens of personnel from the air force, artillery, intelligence and operations units. The project is led by a colonel identified in the report as “A,” who said: “This is a historic day; we are laying the cornerstone for establishing the fires center in Central Command. Those participating today in the initial preparations will be part of 200 regular and reserve officers who will work in this center, which will be completed within a year and a half in response to the operational need, whether for daily security tasks or in wartime in the area.”