Israel Launches "Defense and Force" Drill Amid Heightened Alert on Lebanon Border

The Israeli military announced on Monday the launch of the "Defense and Force" drill over the next two days, aimed at testing and improving its readiness for various scenarios. The drill coincided with raising the alert level on the northern border, anticipating a potential response from Hezbollah following the assassination of its commander Haitham Ali Tabtabaei in Beirut.

1. Details of the Military Drill

• Objective: To test and improve the IDF's readiness for various scenarios, including situation assessment, decision-making at all levels, readiness activation, and force management in the theater of war.

• Supervision: The maneuver is overseen by Chief of Staff, Major General Eyal Zamir, and began by testing the readiness of Division 210 for any sudden emergency.

• Location and Effects: The drill involves noticeable troop movement in the Golan Heights, valleys, and Mount Dov, with sounds of explosions and aircraft movement expected in the area.

2. Heightened Alert on the Northern Border

• Reason for Alert: The Jerusalem Post reported that the IDF raised the alert level on the Lebanon border over fears that Hezbollah might exploit winter weather, fog, and heavy rain to launch an attack in retaliation for Tabtabaei's assassination.

• Defensive Measures: The Times of Israel reported that the Israeli Air Force reinforced its air defenses in the North in anticipation of rocket launches.

• Potential Retaliation Options: Israeli Army Radio suggests potential responses include a barrage of rockets deep into Israel, infiltration attempts into Israeli territory, or into IDF positions in South Lebanon.

• Other Assessments: Estimates also point to a potential operational plan by the Houthis against Israel, given Tabtabaei's close ties to them. Israeli assessments also do not rule out the possibility of Hezbollah choosing not to respond.

3. Significance of the Strike

The strike that targeted the senior Hezbollah commander in the group’s most secure area signals a shift in the confrontation to a "different stage," one that bypasses traditional messaging and directly targets the group's command structure once again.