Israel conducted a two-day war game involving four of its army divisions and the Israeli air force on Sunday and Monday, training military personnel in how to respond to surprise infiltration attacks.
While the move was planned, the military exercise mirrors one of Israel’s nightmare military scenarios, as the nation has received warnings of a return to war with Iran.
F-16 from Israel. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Iron Dome from Israel. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Defense Minister Israel Katz denied on Monday that Israel was planning any fresh strike ahead of the general election on Tuesday, October 27.
Multi-division Air Force Exercise
According to an IDF statement, the exercise involved the 210th Bashan Division, 96th Gilead Division, 98th Division, and Judea and Samaria Division.
The exercise included military vehicles and Israeli Air Force aircraft from the Northern and Central Commands.
The soldiers trained in “a variety of scenarios,” including a “surprise attack and infiltration into Israeli territory by air and land.” The exercise builds on lessons learned from the Hamas-led terrorist attack on October 7, 2023.
Crucially, this exercise was reportedly not planned in response to any newly discovered attack plans.
“This exercise is mostly about non-state actors with or without Iranian support,” analyst Ehud Eilam told Fox News.
“It’s aimed at those in Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan who might try to infiltrate Israel or send ground raids. Iran supports some; others are not. It could be planned by Iran or be a local initiative,” he continued.
Israel’s Message to Tehran: We Are Ready to Defend Ourselves
On October 19, dozens of Israeli fighter jets and refueling planes traveled through Syrian and Iraqi airspace and reached close to the Iran border before returning, Axios reported.
Israeli and U.S. officials said the over 800-mile flight was a demonstration of “power projection.”
However, Washington knew about the move in advance.
Some American sources believed the move may have been an attempt to provoke Iran. Others argued that it was a deterrent exercise.
Israel’s defense chief, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, has increased deployments ahead of the vote.
“It’s all about making sure that the election day on October 27 will run smoothly. It’s also a message to Iran and others: don’t try to provoke us during election day so that nothing will be disrupted.”
He also warned commanders that there were “blind spots” in Israel’s defenses, and that “the lessons of October 7th require us to ensure that such an event never happens again.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, while standing next to an Arrow missile defense battery, that there were “intelligence indications” that Iran and its proxies could interfere with the elections. “Don’t test us. You will suffer disproportionate blows.”
Bibi Denies Division With Defense Chief
However, less than an hour later, Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu clashed with Zamir over an unspecified military order that officials feared could provoke Iran.
Netanyahu denied the claims, saying, “It’s all nonsense.”
Katz added on Monday that the reports of disagreements are “completely baseless and false.”
He also noted that Israel did not have plans to launch an attack on Iran ahead of elections.
But opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, a former IDF chief, has questioned why such a move is needed.
“There is no direct, immediate threat from Iran that necessitates a war before the election,” he told Channel 13.
Echoes of 1973?
Eilam highlighted that during the 1973 war, Egypt and Syria hid plans for their October 6 attack while conducting military exercises to catch Israel off guard.
The IDF itself notes that in its 1973 attempt to eliminate the Jewish State, Egypt launched a joint attack across the Suez Canal while Syria attacked via the Golan Heights.
The Iranian regime has sought to downplay any of its own attack plans on Monday publicly. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said, in language characteristic of the anti-Western regime, that: “The Israeli regime is highly skilled at carrying out false-flag operations…”
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to exercise its inherent right to self-defense to protect Iran’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence,” he went on.
Senior Saudi, Pakistani, and Turkish officials met with their Iranian counterparts in Tehran on Monday. A Saudi statement said they wanted to find “ways to reduce tensions.”
About the Author: Georgia Gilholy
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
