IDF to ban Android phones for officers at lieutenant colonel rank and above
The Israel Defense Forces plan to ban the official use of Android smartphones for officers at the rank of lieutenant colonel and above — they will be issued iPhones. The decision is being justified by the risks of cyberattacks and security tests; the order is expected soon.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
December 2, 2025 · 1 min read
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is preparing a ban on the use of Android-based smartphones for officers at the lieutenant colonel level and above. These devices will no longer be permitted for official use.
Reason for the decision
The enemy has repeatedly attempted to gain access to soldiers' phones via social networks and messaging apps. There have been previous cases in which attackers created fake female accounts with the aim of prompting soldiers to install malicious software.
Such infections allowed attackers to view geolocation data, contacts and photos on the devices.
The IDF also conducted training exercises that simulated attacks, including accounts linked to Hezbollah, to test compliance with phone-usage rules.
Smartphones and next steps
For official phones at this rank it was decided to use only iPhones — this is expected to reduce the risk of device compromise. The relevant order is expected to be published in the near future.
In addition, the United States recently ordered combat AI-equipped FPV drones from the Israeli company Xtend. In Israel, a bill to introduce the death penalty for terrorists was also approved in its first reading.
