Mass drill held in central Israel
Home Front Command holds rocket attack simulation across Tel Aviv metropolitan area; Security, rescue forces take part in exercise as public's participation not required
Roads were not be closed for the purpose of the drill, and the public's participation was not be required.
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Participating in the drill were NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) units and national reserves forces especially called up for the exercise. The Holon City Council, Edith Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, Magen David Adom emergency services, firefighters and police forces also joined in.
A siren sounded at 10:05 am across the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, including in Holon, Bat Yam, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Giv'atayim, Giv'at Shmuel, Bnei Brak, Kiryat Ono, Ganei Tikva, Savyon, Yehud and Or Yehuda.
The siren might have also been heard in Ramat HaSharon, Petah Tikva, Gat Rimon, Kfar Ma'as, Be'erot Yitzhak, Beit Dagan, and Rishon Lezion.
During the drill, Israeli forces simulated a mass casualty event in which some 400 citizens and soldiers were injured by rocket attacks, including chemical warheads, and evacuated to Wolfson Hospital.
Lengthy exercise
Home Front Command officials stressed the drill was planned in advance, prior to the robust public debate in Israel concerning the possibility of an armed conflict with Iran. .
On Wednesday, the defense establishment tested its ballistic missile propulsion system out of the Palmachim Airbase, and Home front Command conducted a drill that simulated rocket attacks.
Also on Wednesday, Iran's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Hassan Fairouz Abadi responded to the alleged Israeli threat, warning that Tehran would retaliate with a "surprising punishment" if Israel decided to pursue such a "mistake."
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