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Photo: Dana Kopel
The Kirya IDF headquarters
Photo: Dana Kopel

Siren sounded as part of IDF drill causes scare in Tel Aviv

Rocket-alert siren heard in Tel Aviv and Givatayim was part of surprise drill at the IDF's Kirya headquarters; frightened residents rush to bomb shelters; IDF normally announces details of such drills in advance to avoid such incidents.

A rocket-alert siren sounded during drill at the Kirya IDF headquarters caused a scare in central Tel Aviv on Sunday evening.

 

 

Many residents in Tel Aviv and Givtayaim rushed to bomb shelters upon hearing the siren at around 7:30pm, not knowing it was part of the drill.

 

Siren blares in Tel Aviv as part of surprise IDF drill    (צילום: ירון מורדוב)

Siren blares in Tel Aviv as part of surprise IDF drill

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Normally, the IDF announces details on such drills in advance to avoid such occurrences.

 

"A short time ago, a surprise drill, which includes civilian security forces, began at the Rabin base (the Kirya) in Tel Aviv. As part of the drill, a rocket-alert siren was sounded, which was heard in the Tel Aviv area," the IDF Spokesman's Office said.

 

The Israel Police also issued a statement on the incident, saying, "In the wake of questions from reporters about the siren that was sounded in the Azrielly Junction area—this is an IDF drill conducted inside the Kirya complex."

 

The Kirya IDF headquarters (Photo: Dana Kopel)
The Kirya IDF headquarters (Photo: Dana Kopel)

 

One Tel Aviv woman recounted the experience. "I was with my daughter at home when I heard the siren. I didn't understand what it was. I opened the door and went out to the hall. Other neighbors started coming out of their apartments as well. There was this unpleasant feeling of panic, mostly because no one knew anything. Then one of the neighbors came downstairs with her dog and said she knew it was a drill because her daughter is in the army. Only then did everyone calm down and return home."  

 

Dvir Cohen, 22, from Tel Aviv, works near the Kirya. "We heard the siren and went about our day. We didn't run for shelter. It was really strange, because we didn't receive warning about it, and (on the other hand) there was no explosion. The situation in this country is one in which we got used to this, and it's a shame," he said.

 

Michael Bortz, who lives near the Kirya, said he was sitting on his balcony when he heard the siren. "We went to silence the TV, because we thought it was coming from there. We looked out to the street and saw no one knew what to do, despite the fact the siren lasted for over a minute," he said.

 

Some two months ago, F-15 fighter jets flew over Tel Aviv and other cities in central Israel, deploying flares, performing aerobatics and alarming residents with sonic booms on the backdrop of mounting tensions with Syria and Iran.

 

The flyover, done in preparation for planned aerial demonstration on Israel's 70th Independence Day, was not announced by the IDF Spokesperson Unit ahead of time, as is the norm.



 

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.24.18, 20:26
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