IDF drill, May 2010
IDF drill, May 2010Israel news photo: IDF

The IDF announced Monday it will hold “extensive” military exercises in the eastern Negev from the evening through Tuesday until the end of the day.

Last month the IDF Home Front Command held an emergency drill in the western Negev as well.

The Southern District forces of the Home Front Command, Israel Firefighters, Israel Police, Israel National Emergency service and Magen David Adom are all participating in the drill.

Officials said the exercises will include scenarios involving locations around the city of Dimona, the sports center at Ben Gurion University of the Negev and the Ara'ara Regional Council. 

The IDF Spokesperson emphasized that the drill was routine and had been planned in advance as part of the year's annual local military exercises.

The Nachal Scout Brigade held a drill last month, including simulations of uncertain conditions that required the soldiers to make spontaneous decisions based on rapidly changing circumstances.

Israel Police recently conducted a fire drill in the Yattir Forest on the mountains of the Southern Hevron Hills region. The exercise included scenarios that involved fires and evacuations of towns.