Tel Aviv, Feb. 3 -- The Israel Defence Forces announced on Tuesday that Major Ella Waweya will become the military's next Arabic-language spokesperson, ending more than two decades of service by Col. Avichay Adraee in the highly visible role. Waweya, currently Adraee's deputy, will be promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel when she formally assumes the position next week.

The appointment was approved during a senior personnel review within the IDF and marks a rare leadership transition in one of the army's most internationally prominent communications posts. The Arabic-language spokesperson serves as the IDF's primary interface with Arab media outlets and Arabic-speaking audiences across the Middle East, particularly during periods o...