IDF conducts large-scale exercise

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has conducted large-scale surprise exercise simulating terror attacks in Israel’s various sectors, to demonstrate preparedness of IDF personnel.

The multi-force exercise involved thousands of soldiers with mostly Special Forces members, the Military Intelligence Directorate, Israel Police, Magen David Adom and the Israel Security Agency.

During the drill, personnel have undergone simulated attack wherein terrorists barricaded themselves in hotels and a dining hall receiving instructions from abroad while the forces negotiated with the terrorists.

Additional simulated scenarios included terrorists infiltrating a military post and carrying out killing spree in an Israeli community as well as terrorists infiltrating from across the Egyptian border into Israel.

General Staff chief lieutenant general Benny Gantz and General Staff deputy chief major general Gadi Eisenkot performed decision-making process as part of the exercise.

Aimed to boost cooperation between various units in the event of disasters, the exercise evaluated the level of preparedness of the operational units and the commands in responding to large-scale, mass-casualty terror attacks.

Operations Directorate senior officer told reporters that "the idea is to prepare for large attacks that we see in the world, against the backdrop of the rise in instability on the border with Sinai and the lack of governance on the Syrian border."