2,000 Israeli reservists call up for surprise drill on Lebanon border

The drill began on Sunday evening, with the Israeli media considering the exercise as a test of Israel’s ability to quickly engage Lebanon.
 
“The scenario involves Lebanon, but it could also be Syria,” a senior military source said, stressing that the drill aims at assessing the preparedness of the Israeli troops.
 
The source went on to say that the surprise drill, which involves live-fire exercises, would end on Thursday.
 
The Israeli media quoted a second Israeli source as saying that the drill was the first of its kind, as it “simulates a broad-based call-up, and follows the process from the [reservist’s] home to the meeting point, and reflects the real situation regarding the force’s preparedness.”
 
“The drill includes a change in the division’s mission; the division must create a new combat procedure based on a new operative plan within 48 hours,” the source added.
 
The drill comes amid the escalation of tensions between Israel and Lebanon over the Tel Aviv regime’s violations of Lebanon’s airspace.
 
On Tuesday, six Israeli military aircrafts penetrated Lebanese airspace and flew over several areas of the country.
 
Lebanon's government, the Hezbollah resistance movement, and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, have repeatedly condemned the overflights, saying they are in clear violation of UN Resolution 1701 and the country's sovereignty.