Golan Heights maneuver (archives)
Photo: Abir Sultan, IDF Spokesperson's Office
IDF moves maneuver from Golan Heights
Maneuver to be held in Galilee next week in bid to prevent unnecessary tension between Israel, Syria
The Israel Defense Forces has decided to move a military maneuver scheduled to take place next week from the Golan Heights to the Galilee in order to prevent unnecessary tension between Israel
and Syria
following the IDF's mysterious airstrike
last month.
The Northern Command and the Israel Air Force and Navy will take part in the maneuver.
The IDF originally planned to hold only part of the maneuver in the Galilee, and in any event does not plan to use live ammunition.
The army held a number of wide-scale exercises and trainings on the Golan Heights over the past few months, but this time decided to act with caution.
Defense establishment officials explained in the past that the Golan Heights was the army's training area, and therefore the movement of forces there should not viewed as a threat or an offensive.
The trainings held on the Golan Heights in the past included the Golani, Givati and Paratroopers brigades, as well as armor units, in cooperation with the IAF and using live ammunition.
Military sources noted that the IDF was continuing to train its forces and prepare them for any scenario or development on the northern and southern regions.
"We have an organized agenda according to which we operate. In this case we are talking about a small change aimed at preventing a misunderstanding," a source said.
