Israeli army conducts training exercises simulating war on northern front

JERUSALEM

The Israeli army announced Friday that it conducted a training exercise, simulating war conditions in winter weather on the northern front, indicating Lebanon.

“The exercises included joint drills of armored, infantry engineering and artillery forces. The soldiers practiced bush warfare in mountainous and complex terrains, as well as camouflage techniques, combat in open areas and evacuation of wounded under harsh weather conditions,” it said.

It noted that “as part of ongoing preparations in the region, an assessment of the situation was conducted earlier this week under the leadership of the Northern Region Commander, Uri Gordin, at the Ramat David Air Force Base.”

The revelation comes amid escalating threats from Israeli officials to expand attacks on Lebanese territory unless Hezbollah fighters withdraw from the borders with northern Israel.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. The ensuing Israeli attack has killed at least 28,663 people and caused mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

Around 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.

The Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala​​​​​​​