The Israeli army has been training for the possibility of a major
war with its northern neighbour
Lebanon, the military announced on Friday.
It said reservists from a brigade had held various exercises over the course of the week to "accelerate readiness for an operation in this arena."
The aim was operational readiness and preparation "for various
combat scenarios in the north."
The training held in
Galilee in the north of the country simulated combat situations in Lebanon.
Infantry and armoured troops trained together with soldiers from
logistics and communications units to work together in rough terrain. Other troops also practised with the air force to "to train for a scenario of rapid aerial resupply to ground forces operating in enemy territory."
For more than seven months, fierce fighting has repeatedly broken out in the border area between
Israel and
Lebanon. The pro-Iranian Shia group
Hezbollah in particular has been firing rockets, artillery and anti-tank shells at northern Israel since October 8.
Israel is using air and artillery attacks to combat
Hezbollah positions. Under a United Nations Security Council resolution, Hezbollah positions should not be so close to the border.
Months of mutual shelling have already caused severe
destruction in villages on both sides of the border. Around 150,000 people on both sides of the border have had to leave their homes.
