The army’s Northern Command completed a five-day exercise Thursday, simulating a conflict with hostile elements on Israel’s northern border, and thousands of imaginary missiles and rockets slamming into the heart of Israel's northern nerve centers. The exercise included all of the command’s regular and reserve units. In particular, hundreds of reserve troops were involved.
Code-named “Crossing Arms III” (Shiluv Zro’ot III), the exercise was the second largest drill carried out since the 2006 Second Lebanon War and was intended largely to measure coordination between ground, naval and air forces. It tested the army’s response to a crisis on the northern border, with special focus on the issue of decision-making under fire.
Several scenarios were simulated, led by Major-General Gershon HaCohen, who reviewed and implemented lessons learned from the Second Lebanon War as well as from previous drills.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi participated in an Apache Longbow (Saraf) helicopter and a Navy submarine mission. General Staff commanders also participated in the exercise. Northern Command chief Maj.-Gen. Gadi Eizenkot took part in analysis sessions during combat simulations.
During the drill, Major-General Yishai Bar announced his retirement. Bar commanded one of the assault armies in the exercise under the command of Northern Command Chief Gadi Eizenkot. Bar said he will continue to serve as a commander in the reserves.
The troops were also visited during the exercise by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and President Shimon Peres.