Col. Avichay Adraee, who has been the Israel Defense Forces’ Arabic-language spokesperson for the past 20 years, is set to retire from the military soon, the IDF confirmed on Tuesday.
Adraee had become a familiar face during the ongoing war, particularly due to the military’s use of his social media pages to issue evacuation warnings ahead of strikes in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Yemen, and even Iran.
With millions of followers across his social media accounts and hundreds of interviews on Arabic-language media channels, including Al Jazeera, Adraee became the IDF’s face — and somewhat of a celebrity — in the Arab world.
Adraee began his service in the Military Intelligence Directorate’s Unit 8200 in 2001.
In 2005, toward the end of his mandatory service, he was offered the chance to head the Arabic media department in the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, a position he took and has held since.
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He was first given the acting rank of captain before completing the officers’ course and being promoted to major. In 2018, when the Arabic media department in the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit was vastly expanded, Adraee was promoted to lieutenant colonel. In July 2024, he was promoted to colonel after months of work during the war.
Col. Avichay Adraee speaks with Palestinians in the West Bank city of Tulkarem, October 23, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
Adraee received numerous threats to his life over the years.
Last year, a Palestinian terrorist who carried out a deadly car-ramming spree in the central city of Ra’anana initially sought to target Adraee, according to police.
IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin was set to select a new Arabic-language spokesperson soon.
The person thought to be the leading candidate is Adraee’s deputy, Maj. Ella Waweya, who is known as “Captain Ella.” Waweya is among the most senior female Arab Muslim officers in the military.
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