Hizbullah raises alert ahead of drill

UNIFIL, Lebanese army deploy 25,000 soldiers along Israeli border in preparation for IDF exercise.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Hizbullah 248.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
Hizbullah 248.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
Hizbullah's leadership has instructed all its operatives to raise their alert to "emergency level" ahead of the IDF Home Front Command's week-long 'Turning Point 3' national drill expected to begin in Israel on Sunday, Channel 2 reported on Saturday, citing Lebanese media. The drill will include all of the emergency services, all of the government ministries and the entire civilian population. According to the report, thousands of Hizbullah men received orders to raise the alert level until the Israeli exercise ends. Hizbullah is reportedly preparing for the possibility that the drill will continue until June 16. The Lebanese al-Akhbar newspaper, affiliated to Hizbullah, reported that "unprecedented alertness can be seen on the Lebanese side of the border ahead of the Israeli drill." The Jerusalem Post could not independently confirm the report. The Lebanese Army and UNIFIL forces will reportedly deploy 25,000 soldiers in the border area. "All the Lebanese security forces are prepared," the paper said. Hizbullah on Saturday expressed fear over what they called "Israel's attempt to use the drill in order to attack targets in Lebanon or carry out special operations." Therefore, the group announced publicly that both its military and political wings were well prepared for such a scenario. "The units have been fortified with additional fighters, and the organization will remain on high alert for the duration of Israel's drill," Hizbullah stated. 'Turning Point 3' will be the third home front exercise to be held since the Second Lebanon War in 2006 and the establishment of the National Emergency Administration (NEA) in the Defense Ministry, which is responsible for setting national emergency standards.