Army, UNIFIL on High Alert ahead of Israeli Exercises
The Lebanese army and UNIFIL were on high alert Wednesday in anticipation of large-scale Israeli military maneuvers expected to begin on Sunday.
Lebanese soldiers and international peacekeepers were deployed along the southern border and on the outskirts of the Shebaa Farms in anticipation of any emergency, the National News Agency reported.
In parallel, tens of Israeli tractors and other heavy machinery, under heavy security, were fortifying military outposts located off the Lebanese territories, it added.
The five-day exercises will simulate simultaneous rocket strikes from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon and missile attacks from Syria and Iran, Defense Ministry spokesman Shlomo Dror told AFP.
The Israeli army was also working on raising a new wired fence around surveillance tower overlooking the town of Shebaa and providing it with new equipment, the NNA said.
In addition, new military posts were erected in the villages of Tallat al-Ramta, al-Summaqa, Rwaissat al-Alam, all of which overlook al-Arqoub region.
Exercise Turning Point 3 will also simulate rescue and medical services” conduct during earthquakes and epidemics.