The Israeli occupation army announced the start of a large-scale military exercise near the Lebanese border, set to run from Sunday evening until Thursday, encompassing areas of the Galilee, the northern settlements, and parts of the coastal and internal fronts.
According to the army’s spokesperson Avichay Adraee, the drill aims to “enhance coordination between different army branches to handle multiple scenarios, including regional protection and immediate field threats.” He warned residents that they may hear explosions and aerial or maritime activity, as the exercises will simulate hostile drone attacks and cross-front assaults, alongside heavy security movement.
Simulating War Under the Guise of “Training”
Adraee claimed the exercise was a “pre-planned” part of the 2025 annual training schedule, but it comes as Israel intensifies airstrikes on southern Lebanon, targeting civilian zones and economic facilities under the pretext of “security operations.”
Late Thursday night, Israeli warplanes launched violent air raids on the town of Ansar, destroying a cement and construction materials facility, and causing major economic losses for local residents.
A day later, the Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed the martyrdom of a civilian in Deir Kifa, after an Israeli drone strike targeted a bulldozer operating inside the town.
These strikes accompany an ongoing Israeli escalation, reflecting Tel Aviv’s dual-track policy—continuing aggressive attacks on Lebanese soil while presenting them publicly as “defensive measures.”
“Limited Operation” and Expanding Military Presence
In a related development, Adraee also announced that the Israeli army had carried out a limited ground operation at dawn on Friday, claiming to have destroyed a Hezbollah military building in the village of Yaroun, southern Lebanon.
Israeli newspaper Maariv described the current drill as the first of its kind since the outbreak of the confrontation with Hezbollah, designed to simulate real battlefield conditions within occupied northern Palestine, reflecting Tel Aviv’s readiness for broader engagement scenarios.
According to Maariv, the manoeuvre coincides with rising tensions along the border strip, amid Israeli claims that Hezbollah is attempting to rebuild its damaged capabilities after months of clashes.
Occupation Forces Admit to Continuous Cross-Border Operations
Brigadier General Yuval Gaz, commander of the Israeli Galilee Division, addressed local councils and border communities, boasting that his troops were working “day and night to prevent Hezbollah’s reorganisation in southern Lebanon.”
He confirmed that both regular and reserve units “conduct daily raids, destroy infrastructure, and foil infiltration attempts.”
Gaz further admitted that rules of engagement have not changed, warning of “increased attempts to reach agricultural lands near the front,” particularly during the olive harvest season. He vowed that the army would “remove anyone suspected of belonging to Hezbollah or approaching the border.”
Reading Between the Lines
While Tel Aviv brands these exercises as “routine,” their timing and scale indicate a de facto state of war readiness on the Lebanese front.
The manoeuvres coincide with persistent airstrikes, ground incursions, and heightened rhetoric from Israeli military officials—pointing to a possible prelude to wider confrontation with the Lebanese Resistance.
Observers note that these “drills” often serve as psychological warfare—meant to project strength, test field logistics, and pressure Lebanon politically while maintaining plausible deniability before the international community.
As the southern front remains tense, and Hezbollah continues its deterrent posture, the region stands once again on the edge of escalation—a familiar Israeli tactic to distract from internal political crises and to reassert dominance through aggression.
