Posted on 03/21/2008 3:08:37 PM PDT by maquiladora
Over the past few days, the IDF completed a large-scale exercise simulating a takeover of Gaza. The exercise was one of the largest held in recent years.
The exercise was meant to simulate a large-scale ground operation in the Gaza Strip. Taking part were commanders from all the combat units in the regular and reserve army designated to execute a takeover of the Gaza Strip if such an operation is decided on.
Israeli military sources said that in the course of the exercise, "the army's fear that a ground operation in Gaza would lose international legitimacy and would be stopped because of international pressure on Israel was given expression." They said that because of this concern, one of the goals given the Southern Command was to attain achievements quickly and in tandem to act to prevent a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Therefore, during the "combat," dozens of trucks with food were brought into the Gaza Strip even during the course of the fierce battles.
The exercise began with a scenario simulating heavy Kassam rocket fire on the Gaza periphery communities and on Sderot and Grad rocket fire at Ashkelon. The Kassam rockets and the Grad rockets, according to the scenario, caused casualties and forced the army to embark on an operation meant to reduce the fire.
Most of the details of the exercise are classified, but from what can be released it is learned that two offensive moves were practiced, during which dozens of clashes occurred that included anti-tank rocket fire, car bombs and explosive charges.
In the course of the exercise, the IDF took heavy losses. The number of "casualties" was determined beforehand, not on the basis of operations research.
For the first time in exercises of this sort, not only the number of killed was reported but names of the dead soldiers were also invented to create a sense of realism. According to the exercise, in the course of the fighting, the rocket fire at Israel continued but was gradually reduced as the fighting progressed.
Great emphasis was also put on keeping information secret. The officers who took part in the exercise had to put away their cell phones and maintain secrecy.
The exercise, which took place in a number of places, was overseen by Israeli Army Southern Command Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant, with Gaza Division Commander Brig. Gen. Moshe (Chico) Tamir under him.
On Tuesday, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak went to view the exercise together with Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi. During the week, almost all the generals of the IDF general staff watched it, as did Director of Military Intelligence Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin, OC Operations Directorate Maj. Gen. Tal Russo and others.
Ping
It would seem there was a leak.
My question....... why risk lives of troops needed to fight hezbollah.
All in Gaza are enemies and targets. After 25 0r 30 thousand Gazan’s are dead, things will look up
Israel fears world opinion more than it fears death.
military censors??
Yep. The fact that the largest excercise of this kind for years doesn't even get a mention in any other of the Israeli papers and gets pulled from Ynet makes it pretty clear that the IDF have put a blackout on the event.
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