IDF launches surprise Gaza drill to test Southern Command’s readiness
Exercise is meant to simulate a sudden outbreak of violence along the border; residents told to expect to see major troop movements
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJudah Ari Gross is The Times of Israel's religions and Diaspora affairs correspondent.
The Israel Defense Forces launched a surprise exercise simulating a sudden outbreak of fighting on the Gaza border on Monday, the military said.
The exercise is meant to test the readiness of the IDF Southern Command and its ability to respond to a rapidly developing conflict and its “inter-organizational and inter-branch cooperation,” the IDF said in a statement.
Residents of the Gaza border area were told they should expect to see large numbers of ground troops and aircraft in the area and may hear the sounds of explosions.
Monday’s drill was part of a series of exercises known as “Chief of Staff Evaluations,” which began under IDF chief Aviv Kohavi as a way to assess the military’s preparedness on a number of fronts.
As part of these examinations, the Israeli Navy simulated a response to a sudden maritime threat on the Lebanese border in September 2019; a few months later the military was forced to respond to a sudden “cyber-attack,” which shut down key computer systems; in 2020, the IDF Central Command simulated a kidnapping and outbreak of violence in the West Bank; and last November, the military tested how quickly it could call up reservists should fighting break out in Lebanon, among others.
Though these surprise evaluations are kept secret from those taking part in them, the military said that Monday’s exercise was planned in advance as part of the 2022 training schedule.
The Southern Command’s performance during the surprise drill will be assessed by the IDF comptroller and the IDF Operations Directorate.
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