ISLAMABAD: Amid heightened concerns over potential direct militaryescalation between Israel and Iran, the Israeli army’s Home Front Commandexecuted one of its largest recent exercises, simulating an intensebombardment involving approximately 2,000 missiles striking majorpopulation centres across the country. Reported by the Hebrew-languageMaariv newspaper under the headline “2,000 missiles on Israel: Fear ofintense Iranian bombardment of Israeli population centres,” the drillfocused on emergency response, casualty treatment, and rescue operations inscenarios of extensive urban destruction. The Israeli military hasrefrained from issuing any official confirmation or denial regarding thespecifics of the exercise as of the latest reports.
The simulation portrayed a hypothetical large-scale attack originating fromIran, with ballistic missiles impacting civilian areas and causing buildingcollapses, infrastructure damage, and mass casualties. Participantsincluded hundreds of soldiers and commanders from the Home Front Command’sdedicated Rescue Brigade, who practiced coordinated efforts to extractvictims from rubble and provide immediate medical aid at mock disastersites. Such drills underscore Israel’s strategic emphasis on civil defencepreparedness, given Iran’s demonstrated missile capabilities and thevolatile nature of bilateral relations in recent years.
The exercise took place at a specialised facility within the Zikim armybase, located south of Tel Aviv, a site historically used for training butrepurposed in recent times due to security developments along regionalborders. The scenario incorporated elements of widespread devastation,including the collapse of high-rise structures and towers, reflectingassessments of how cluster munitions or precision-guided projectiles couldamplify damage in densely built environments. This approach aligns withlessons drawn from prior incidents where missile strikes caused significantstructural failures in Israeli cities.
Israel’s multilayered air defence architecture, comprising systems such asIron Dome for short-range threats, David’s Sling for medium-range, andArrow for long-range ballistic missiles, has been tested in real-worldexchanges. However, the sheer volume of 2,000 incoming projectiles in thesimulated scenario would pose an unprecedented saturation challenge,potentially overwhelming interceptors and allowing a portion to reachtargets. Analysts note that Iran’s arsenal includes thousands of ballisticmissiles, with ranges sufficient to strike Israel, heightening theperceived threat level.
The timing of the drill coincides with ongoing diplomatic manoeuvring inthe region, including reported preparations for renewed United States-Irannegotiations under shifting geopolitical dynamics. While the exercise wasdescribed in some accounts as pre-planned and part of routine trainingschedules, its scale and specific Iranian focus highlight persistentanxieties within Israeli security establishments about the possibility of abroader conflict. The Home Front Command plays a pivotal role in protectingcivilians during such contingencies, managing alerts, shelter directives,and post-impact recovery.
Public awareness of the drill emerged primarily through media disclosuresrather than official channels, reflecting a pattern where sensitivemilitary preparations are sometimes revealed to emphasise readiness withoutdirect provocation. The absence of an immediate army statement may indicatean intent to avoid amplifying public alarm or providing adversaries withoperational insights. Nonetheless, the reported details serve to reassuredomestic audiences of institutional preparedness while signallingdeterrence to potential threats.
Iran has long maintained that its missile programme serves defensivepurposes, while Israel views it as an existential risk, particularly incombination with proxy networks across the Middle East. Previous directexchanges, including missile launches and retaliatory actions, havedemonstrated the capacity for rapid escalation, prompting both sides tobolster defensive postures. The Zikim-based drill, involving realisticurban collapse simulations, represents an effort to bridge the gap betweentheoretical planning and operational execution in high-casualtyenvironments.
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Experts emphasise that such large-scale exercises enhance coordinationamong rescue units, medical teams, and local authorities, critical forminimising loss of life in worst-case scenarios. The involvement of reserveforces in the Rescue Brigade also ensures sustained capability duringprolonged emergencies. As regional tensions persist, influenced by broaderstrategic competitions, Israel’s civil defence infrastructure continues toevolve in response to evolving missile technologies and delivery systems.
The drill’s emphasis on post-impact response rather than interception aloneillustrates a comprehensive approach to national resilience. By simulatingextreme destruction, Israeli forces aim to refine protocols that couldprove vital in any future large-scale confrontation, underscoring thestrategic calculus driving military planning in an uncertain securitylandscape.
Source:https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israeli-army-conducts-simulated-iranian-attack-drill-involving-2-000-missiles-report/3819454
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