The Israeli Air Force (IAF) completed on Tuesday a three-day exercise along the country's northern frontier amid that concerns Hezbollah is preparing to light up Israel's northern frontier with a series of small-scale conflicts.
The surprise drill, dubbed "Galilee Rose," simulated a conflict with Syria and Lebanon, where the Iran-backed Shi'ite militant group is based.
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An Israeli fighter jet taking off during the drill along the northern border
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
The exercise showed that the IDF is capable of attacking some 3,000 targets within 24 hours.
Dozens of fighter jets, cargo planes and drones took part in the exercise, operated by conscripted and reserve troops, adding up to 85% of the IAF's personal.
The drill was launched with a mock attack of an Israeli fighter jet on a routine intelligence flight in Lebanon. The attack was followed by a series of strikes against Hezbollah targets, with the terror group, in turn, launching infiltration attempts against IDF forces near the border.
The wargames took place two weeks after a Hezbollah anti-air unit failed to shoot down an Israeli drone. Army intelligence has pointed to a rise in the terror group's intentions to launch a series of small-scale attacks along the border.
The drill simulated a quick response to this possible escalation, with attacks in southern Lebanon, Beirut and the Bakka Valley.
"During a month of fighting in southern Lebanon in 2006, we attacked some 3,500 targets, the same amount we have simulated in just one day," a senior IAF officer said. "Out attack plans are wide-spanning and up to date."
"During this exercise, we also examined the possibility of Hezbollah attacking through Syria, attacking their cruise missiles and preparing defensively against them," he added. "We simulated attacks on their command centers, including infrastructure meant to facilitate the transfer of Iranian weapons."
The officer added that an escalation that will lead to rocket attacks on civilians ending within a few days is "unrealistic."