The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have concluded a large-scale military exercise that simulated various scenarios, including war with Hamas, the organization that runs the Gaza Strip and which is considered a terrorist group in Tel Aviv.
During the exercise, IDF's Southern Command practiced rapid troop deployment, firepower and squad-level combat, together with air support, troop maneuvering, logistics, maintenance, transportation, medical support and administrative assistance, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Today marks the end of a 3-day surprise exercise of air, naval, and ground forces that focused on one thing: Readiness. pic.twitter.com/mRwCU6Uv1C
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) 26 февраля 2019 г.
The surprise drill incorporated all branches of the military, including ground troops, artillery, aircraft, the armored corps and intelligence corps, the IDF said in an announcement.
Tuesday 26th February 2019: @Israel launches surprise military-wide drill Sunday simulating war in Gaza; Amid increasing violence in the Gaza Strip and concerns over army preparedness, 3-day exercise to include live-fire tests, IDF troop deployments and aerial maneuvers. pic.twitter.com/1xGDqX2fhV
— Israel First (@israelfirst_tv) 26 февраля 2019 г.
The drill was designed to check the operational readiness of the Israeli military in response to increasing criticism following allegations by former military ombudsman Yitzhak Brick that the IDF is not prepared for a large-scale war.
Army wraps up snap drill simulating future Gaza war: Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi takes part in final day of drill, which IDF says tested troops' 'operational readiness' for combat in Palestinian enclave https://t.co/CNgHJOI4W2 TimesofIsrael pic.twitter.com/4j53SdNMuj
— Jewish Community (@JComm_BlogFeeds) 26 февраля 2019 г.
The exercise comes during heightened tensions between Israel and Gaza and in the wake of the IDF Intelligence Directorate's assessment that a military escalation is possible this year in both Gaza and the West Bank.
UN Special Coordinator to the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov also told the UN Security Council that there was a growing risk of war between Israel and Gaza.
Newly Appointed Chief of Staff Orders Major Surprise Training Exercise for Israeli #Military https://t.co/bgKaKpgPmX #Hamas #IDF #Israel #IsraelDefenseForces #News #WorthyNews pic.twitter.com/k3R8sDhwLA
— worthynews (@worthynews) 26 февраля 2019 г.
"With the prospects of intra-Palestinian reconciliation dimming, the people of Gaza feel more and more left to their own devices — with no representation, no relief and no way out. The Palestinians, who are the weaker people in the conflict, need international support more than ever," he said, speaking before the council on 20 February.
This is the third large-scale IDF military drill in the last 30 days. The most recent one, a week-long exercise, concluded on 15 February. The previous drill concluded on 31 January.
IDF Practices Massive Drill To ‘Simulate Conditions Of War With Hezbollah’ — https://t.co/yDlut9LDEj Israeli army underwent a massive simulation within the past week to train troops for combat missions in conditions similar to those in Lebanon, announced the Israel Defense For… pic.twitter.com/7lHF5FUxu3
— Matzav_news (@MatzavN) 18 февраля 2019 г.
