Global General

Israel launches drill simulating homeland attacks

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-23 20:21

JERUSALEM - Israel started on Sunday a five- day civil defense exercise, to enhance the ability of army, local authorities and civilians of responding to possible missile and rocket attacks on the Jewish state.

The annual exercise, dubbed as "Turning Point 4," will be carried out in more than 30 local authorities throughout Israel, with Israel Defense Forces (IDF), police, emergency and rescue crews, local authorities, education system as well as the public involved, IDF said in a statement.

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This year's exercise will simulate emergency scenarios, including missile and rocket attacks as well as strikes by unconventional weapons, to test the preparedness of the local authorities and the cooperation between different crews during such scenarios.

The drill will expand to the general public on Wednesday when a siren is sounded throughout the country and the civilians will be instructed to enter the "designated secured area," said the IDF statement.

The exercise comes amid a tense at the Israeli northern border.

Deputy chief of the Lebanese Shiite armed group Hezbollah Naim Qassem said early last week that the party will "remain stronger than all Israeli schemes."

The Jewish last month accused Syria of giving Hezbollah long- range Scud missiles, an accusation denied by Damascus.

Israel's ongoing exercise sparks speculations that Israel is preparing for a war.

While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday' s cabinet meeting that the drill was scheduled a long time ago. " It is not the result of an unusual security-related development," local news service Ynet quoted the premier as saying.