Operations Directorate Explained

Unit Name:	Operations Directorate
Native Name:	אגף המבצעים
Dates:	1999–present
Commander1:	Aluf Oded Basyuk
Identification Symbol Label:	Flag

The Israeli Operations Directorate (Agaf HaMivtza'im) is a branch in the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, established in 1999, alongside the regional commands, the air force and navy. Since June 2021, it is headed by Aluf Oded Basyuk.

Tasks

The directorate has the following responsibilities:

• Preparing the IDF for war, emergencies, and day-to-day security
• Deriving an operational strategy from the national security agenda and military doctrine
• Coordinating the IDF's work with the other security forces, and drafting IDF recommendations for the political echelon
• Instructing the regional command, air force, navy, GOC Army Headquarters and other directorates, with respect to the exercise of force and its coordination

Units

• Operations Division
• Instruction, Doctrine and Evaluation Division
  • IDF Spokesperson Special Means Division
• Department for Campaign Design
• Centre for Consciousness Operations
• Inspection and Supervision Department
• General Staff Security Department

Commanders

The list includes those who served as heads of operations prior to when it was spun off from the IDF's General Staff. The list also includes pre-IDF Haganah commander Yigael Yadin who also served in that capacity during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Dan Halutz, who original served as the Aide to Chief of the Operations Branch, was appointed to the head of the Operations Directorate soon after its establishment.

Name	Term start	Term end	Notes
			Later Director of Mossad
	1958
			5th Prime Minister
			Later President of Israel
			Later Director of Mossad
			Later Commissioner of Police
			10th Prime Minister
			-->

Assistant Head of the Operations Branch

The list is of those who served as Assistant Head of the Operations Branch prior to establishment of the Operations Directorate in 1999.

Name	Term	Notes
	1950–1951
	1951–1953
	1953–1954
	1954–1956
	1956
	1956–1957	During Sinai War
	1957–1958
	1958–1960
	1961
	July to December 1961
	1961–1962
	1962–1963
	1963–1964
	1964–1968	During Six-Day War
	1968–1969
	1969–1971
	1971–1973
	1973–1974	During Yom Kippur War
	1974–1976
	1976
	1976–1978
	1978–1980
	1980–1981
	1981–1983	During the First Lebanon War
	1983–1986
	1986–1987
	1987–1989
	1989–1992
	1992–1993
	1993–1995
	1995–1996
	1996–1998
	1998–1999	Post terminated; Halutz became head of the Operations Directorate

See also

• Directorate of Operations (CIA)