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Sirens to sound across Israel during nationwide defence drill
Israeli citizens will be asked to simulate their response to rocket attacks today during a country-wide defence drill aimed at preparing Israeli armed forces and rescue services for a complex, large-scale attack.
The drill, which is being conducted throughout the week, will simulate a massive coordinated rocket attack from several fronts which would damage essential infrastructure, plus a cyber-attack bringing down the country’s phone and internet network. The “Turning Point 15” exercise will involve land, air and naval armed forces, plus the IDF Home Front Command, police, fire crews, medics and local bodies. The Walla news website says that the drill will also practice the mass evacuation of population centres to makeshift accommodation.
Today will see the drill at its most public, with two rocket sirens sounded across the country at 11.05am and 7.05pm. However, the siren will not sound in Gaza border communities, where periodic rocket attacks still occur. Israelis are asked to seek their nearest air raid shelter when the sirens are sounded.
Israeli officials have made clear that this week’s drill does not signify any imminent threat of war and YNet says that Israeli officials have sent messages to Iran and Hezbollah in recent days to that effect. The first drill of this kind was conducted in 2007, in the aftermath of the previous year’s Second Lebanon War, and similar drills have taken place since then on an almost annual basis.
An IDF spokesperson said, “The exercise is an opportunity to prepare the public for emergencies, examining the various systems and inter-organisational coordination and improve preparedness and emergency response to defend the home front.”
However, Israeli military officials have assessed that Hezbollah possesses around 100,000 rockets at its disposal on the northern border. Meanwhile, Hamas has been replenishing its stockpile of rockets in the Gaza Strip following last summer’s conflict. There have also been reports that Hamas has begun to restore its network of attack tunnels aimed at Israel.