(Institute for National Security Studies-Tel Aviv University) Col. (ret.) Gabi Siboni - The IDF has intensified its cognitive-related activity recently to create legitimacy in international target audiences, influence the enemy, and even maintain deterrence. In January 2018, IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ronen Manlis published an article in the Arab media, warning Lebanon's citizens of Hizbullah's military deployment within the civilian population. The article was part of a range of IDF overt and covert activities in the realm of cognitive operations, with the aim of delivering messages to target audiences in Lebanon, the region, and the world at large: that buildup efforts by Iran and Hizbullah are clear to Israel and that Israel has the ability to act against them. Technological development enables a wide range of focused means of influence on target audiences and, in effect, creates another combat arena. Col. (ret.) Gabi Siboni is director of the Military and Strategic Affairs Program and Cyber Security Program at INSS, where Gal Perl Finkel is coordinator of those programs.
2018-03-09 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive