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 |  Subject: IDF conducts surprise large-scale drill  Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:23 pm | |
| IDF conducts surprise large-scale drillExercise simulating three simultaneous terror attacks planned a year in advance but sprung on soldiers without noticeBy GAVRIEL FISKE June 24, 2013, 9:57 am 1
Reserve soldiers take part in a surprise drill on an IDF base in northern Israel on April 29, 2013. (photo credit: Shay Wagner/Israel Army Spokesman/Flash 90)
The IDF held a large-scale, surprise drill on Sunday that simulated three concurrent major terror attacks on Israeli soil, including a hostage situation. Although the exercise was planned and prepared for a year in advance, the exact date was not set and it was conducted as a surprise exercise for the participating soldiers.
“This was a great exercise… [whose purpose] was to test the readiness of operational units and leadership in response to a major terror attack, such as Algeria,” a senior officer told Walla News, referring to the Ain Amenas hostage crisis in January, during which an al-Qaeda-affiliated group captured over 800 hostages at an Algerian oil facility.
In addition to the IDF and its intelligence service, Israeli police and emergency services participated in the drill, which also simulated simultaneous, major cross-border incursions from the Sinai and Syria.
One officer said that “overall, the response was good” and praised the “quick transition” of participating units to a state of readiness. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz and Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen Gadi Eizenkot, took part in the drill and were active in command center decisions.
In late April-early May, a large-scale military exercise simulated war with Lebanon.
The IDF called up a full division and some 2,000 reserve soldiers to the northern part of the country for that exercise, simulating the mobilization of a large number of troops in a short period.
The decision to launch the drill was reportedly based on the threats to Israel’s security along its northern border with both Syria and Lebanon.
Aaron Kalman contributed to this report.http://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-conducts-surprise-large-scale-drill/
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