BICOM

The Israeli military carried out a large-scale surprise military exercise yesterday on the Golan Heights.

Tens of thousands of soldiers were reportedly mobilised without their prior knowledge for the drill.  Many troops were transported by air from the centre of the country to the Golan Heights, where a live fire exercise took place, which included artillery fire.

Some media reports speculated that the exercise was part of increased Israeli preparation for a possible conflict with Iran or Syria.  However, an Israeli military statement called the drill ‘part of a routine inspection’, emphasising that it ‘does not indicate any changes’ in the country’s alert levels.

A similar snap exercise was held last year, involving two IDF divisions, which focused on the level of preparation for reserve units for an emergency call up.  Yesterday’s exercise was reportedly similarly designed to test the readiness of various units, including the air force, for an emergency situation.

One Israeli report of the exercise emphasised that the Israeli military had been careful to quickly inform the Israeli public of the drill once it commenced.  Israeli authorities had apparently also been quick to inform Syrian officials of the exercise, in order not to cause unnecessary alarm.