Israel and Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group in southern Lebanon, are edging closer to a conflict as Hezbollah launched numerous rockets and projectiles at Israel over the weekend, igniting widespread fires near Israel’s northern borders.
In response to earlier attacks, Israel struck several terrorist sites in southern Lebanon. Unlike Hezbollah, which targets both military and civilian areas, Israel focuses its attacks on military objectives.
The IDF issued a statement Sunday:
This week, the IDF conducted an exercise in General Staff command centers as part of the IDF’s readiness for a campaign in the northern arena.
Regular and reservist soldiers participated in the exercise at the headquarters of the Northern Command and in all IDF branches and directorates. The exercise included scenarios simulating an expanded war in the northern arena, as well as multi-arena warfare.
As part of the exercise, the 36th Division conducted a broad division-level simulation that included combat scenarios in the northern arena.
During the exercise, the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, visited the Northern Command Operations Center, the command centers in the region and the Israeli Air Force Operations Center in the Kirya with the Commanding Officer of the Northern Command, MG Ori Gordin, the Commanding Officer of the Israeli Air Force, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, the Head of the Intelligence Directorate (J2), MG Aharon Haliva, the Head of the Operations Directorate (J3), MG Oded Basiuk and other commanders.
The IDF continues to strengthen its readiness at all times and learn lessons during the course of the war.
Hezbollah is violating United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, the resolution that ended the Second Lebanon War in 2006 and prohibited Hezbollah from placing military installations south of the Litani River.
