Hizbullah may take advantage of pulloutto attack Israel
Photo: Channel 2
IDF prepares for possible escalation
Three-day exercise aims to examine IDF’s capability to respond to violence along northern border during disengagement, when large number of IDF units would be deployed hundredsof kilometers to the south
Nasrallah threatens – IDF prepares: The IDF concluded late Wednesday a three-day wide-ranging exercise aimed at testing the military’s response capabilities in case of an escalation of violence along the northern border during the disengagement.
Threat
By Reuters
Hizbullah Chief Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah says ‘any hand that reaches out to our weapons is an Israeli hand that will be cut off’
“The exercise’s objective is to permit the implementation of the disengagement in August in any case, and to prepare a response for an array of possibilities and scenarios along the border (with Lebanon),” a senior IDF officer told Ynet.
Scenarios that may evoke escalation include:
- Attempt to abduct an IDF soldier
- Strategic attack to divert attention from pullout
- Barrage of mortar shells, rockets, and anti-aircraft missiles at IDF outposts
- Terrorist attack on IDF outpost
- Katyusha rocket fire at Israeli towns
Earlier on Wednesday Hizbullah Chief Hassan Nasrallah said he has “12,000 rockets capable of hitting the whole of northern Israel,” and the IDF is well aware the northern border must not be neglected despite intense disengagement preparations.
During the April 2002 “Defense Wall” operation against terror groups in the territories, attacks were carried out on IDF outposts along the northern border and Katyusha rockets were fired at Israeli towns.
Brigadier General (reserves) Yaakov Ayash said the IDF is also preparing for the possibility that not only Hizbullah, but other terror groups operating in Lebanon may attack as well.
