“Breaking Dawn 2.0” tested simultaneous infiltrations from Lebanon and Gaza, terrorism in Judea and Samaria, and rocket attacks on Tel Aviv
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
JERUSALEM, Israel (Worthy News) – The Israel Defense Forces launched an unannounced nationwide military exercise Sunday, testing Israel’s ability to respond to a sudden, large-scale war erupting simultaneously on multiple fronts as the Jewish High Holidays approach.
Dubbed “Breaking Dawn 2.0,” the surprise drill was ordered by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, with most senior commanders reportedly given no advance warning. Officers were abruptly summoned to command centers, standby forces were mobilized, and reserve capabilities were tested as commanders were forced to make rapid decisions under simulated wartime conditions.
The scenarios closely mirrored the nightmare Israel experienced on Oct. 7, 2023. According to The Times of Israel, the drill included the simulated infiltration of 10 to 15 terrorists from Lebanon into an Israeli border community, terrorist attacks and infiltration in Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank, rocket fire against Tel Aviv, and a breakdown along the Gaza frontier that allowed terrorists to penetrate three Israeli communities. Troops practiced rapidly retaking territory, including airlifting a battalion by helicopter into southern Israel.
The exercise comes as Israeli officials remain concerned that Iran and its regional proxies could attempt to coordinate attacks against Israel from several directions. The Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli intelligence assessments have pointed to renewed Iranian efforts to coordinate Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis and other Tehran-backed forces in a potential multi-front campaign.
“We are in a tense and volatile period across all sectors,” Zamir said during the exercise, declaring that the IDF’s new baseline must be “readiness for a surprise attack.”
Zamir later delivered an unmistakable warning to Israel’s enemies: “Anyone who tries to harm the State of Israel and its citizens will face a determined, prepared and ready IDF, and will pay an immediate and very heavy price.”
Nearly three years after Oct. 7 exposed devastating weaknesses in Israel’s defenses, the message behind the exercise was difficult to miss. Israel is training for the possibility that the next war may not begin on a single border — and its military leadership is determined that the nation will never again be caught waiting for an attack that has already begun.
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