Home Front Command
The Home Front Command (HFC) is the IDF's regional command responsible for civil defense, public safety, and the coordination of civilian protection across Israel during emergencies.
The Home Front Command (HFC) serves as the primary bridge between the Israel Defense Forces and the civilian population. Established in 1992 following the lessons of the Gulf War, its mission is to strengthen national resilience by preparing the civilian sector for various threats, ranging from rocket fire and terror attacks to natural disasters. The command is currently led by Major General Shay Kleper. In times of active conflict, the HFC is responsible for issuing real-time life-saving instructions, managing the national alert system (including sirens and mobile app notifications), and determining the 'Defense Policy'—a set of guidelines that dictate the scale of educational activities, workplace operations, and public gatherings based on the prevailing threat level.
During the June 2026 escalation involving direct Iranian missile barrages, the HFC played a pivotal role in managing the national alert cycle. On June 8, 2026, the command issued preliminary warnings for over 145 locations and managed real-time alerts for over 610 centers following massive launches from Iran and Yemen. As the conflict transitioned into a direct kinetic exchange between the U.S. and Iran, the HFC has maintained a high state of vigilance. While most educational institutions returned to full in-person learning on June 9, the command continues to enforce specific safety mandates for frontline northern communities, requiring access to standard protected spaces. As of June 10, 2026, the HFC confirmed that defensive guidelines remain unchanged through June 14, despite escalating regional tensions and the deployment of U.S. strategic assets like B-52 bombers in the sector.