An Israeli tank can be seen near the Israeli side of the border with Syria in the Golan Heights, Israel May 9, 2018. Photo: REUTERS/Amir Cohen.

JNS.org – The Israel Defense Forces’ elite Golani Brigade ‎recently held a large drill simulating battles ‎with Hezbollah on the Israel-Lebanon border.‎

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit stressed that the exercise was ‎routine and was part of a series of‏ ‏drills ‎by the 36th Division in the northern sector. ‎

The drill included armored, engineering, and ‎artillery forces that simulated various scenarios of clashes with the ‎Iranian-backed Shi’ite terrorist group, including ‎open-area and urban warfare in daytime and ‎nighttime conditions.‎

The exercise also included collaborations between ‎ground, air, and intelligence troops and the use of ‎new technological capabilities recently introduced ‎by the IDF. ‎

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot observed ‎the drill on Wednesday and lauded the troops’ ‎wartime readiness.‎

‎“Each exercise reflects the IDF’s operational, ‎physical, and mental readiness. The soldiers’ ‎strength can be felt on the ground; this is ‎Golani’s fighting spirit,” he told the troops. ‎

As part of its ongoing training for a potential ‎future war with Hezbollah, the IDF is in the ‎process of building a training compound in northern ‎Israel that would include six “Hezbollah villages.”‎

The premises will simulate dense urban surroundings, ‎including different buildings, mosques, underground ‎compounds and more. Thick vegetation will also be ‎planted in the compound to better mimic the ‎situation on the ground in Lebanon. ‎

The IDF expects to complete the compound’s ‎construction by the end of the year. ‎