Israel Kicks Off Military Exercises along Lebanon's Border

Israel began a week-long military drills along its northern border with Lebanon to test its readiness for any possible future war with Hizbullah.

The military exercises according to a high-ranking Israeli army official are in light of “Hizbullah's realization that its most strategic weapon is to move battles into Israel,” the Israeli newspaper Maariv quoted him as saying.

Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command Chief Major General Eyal Eisenberg announced on Wednesday the beginning of “emergency week” in north Israel, citing fears that Hizbullah could be able to infiltrate into the Jewish state's northern settlements and occupy them.

Israeli officers expected in comments to Maariv “the country's local front to receive firm strikes by Hizbullah, taking into consideration that the Iron Dome defense system wouldn't be able to secure the area.”

The officers also expected that Hizbullah fighters would infiltrate to Akka (Acre) and carry out a huge security operation in the city.

Israel continuously warned Hizbullah, in particular after its strike in January which killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded seven others in the occupied Shebaa Farms, of any hostile action, vowing to harshly retaliate.

Hizbullah said the operation was in response to a deadly Israeli air raid that killed six of its fighters, including prominent members, in Syria's Quneitra.

Last week, an Israeli military vessel crossed 10 meters into Lebanon's waters, threatening a Lebanese fishing boat.

The southern border area also witnessed recently intensified Israeli movement as troops and armored vehicles combed the border area.

Israeli troops regularly cross the electronic border fence and sometimes enter Lebanese territory through the U.N.-demarcated Blue Line, which was drawn up following Israel’s withdrawal from south Lebanon in 2000 after a 22-year occupation.

The fence runs parallel to the Blue Line.

H.K.

G.K.