IDF wraps up snap drill on Jordanian border that tested readiness for emergency scenarios

The military has wrapped up a snap drill on the Jordanian border, simulating sudden events to test its preparedness.

The pre-planned drill, dubbed “Sulfur and Fire,” began overnight and was completed a short while ago. It involved the 96th and 80th regional divisions, responsible for the border with Jordan, along with special forces.

The military says that during the drill, several scenarios were practiced, including terrorist infiltration into communities, drone attacks and “complex incidents” in the resort and industrial areas of the Dead Sea.

The drill practiced calling up troops and deploying stand-by forces, coordination between the two divisions, and air-ground coordination, including fighter jets and helicopters carrying out dozens of strikes “within short timeframes,” the IDF says.

Special forces simulated “complex incidents” in civilian areas at the Dead Sea, including a scenario of a terrorist infiltration at a hotel, according to the military.

The military says that standing army and reserve forces who were called up were deployed “within short timeframes,” and the turnout of reservists in the 96th Division’s volunteer brigades stood at 100%.

An initial debrief of the drill found that new defense directives implemented as part of the lessons learned from the October 7, 2023, onslaught, along with recent reinforcements on the Jordanian border, “contributed to the successful handling of a sudden incident,” the military says.

The IDF says that it will also conduct an “in-depth review of the lessons from the exercise, identifying weaknesses and noteworthy points, to continue to improve the military’s defense and preparedness for a variety of scenarios.”