Israeli army conducts drills in West Bank

Hundreds of Israeli soldiers were witnessed carrying out military training in Fara'ata, a Palestinian town in the Qalqilya Governorate in the West Bank on Wednesday night. Military exercises were conducted that simulated war scenarios on three fronts: Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. The army has reportedly upgraded their strategies to simulate scenarios of a long-term war. Palestinian citizens living in the region have accused the army of harassment and causing an inconvenience. Some villagers told Arabstoday that the strict military measures taken in the village have provoked a state of fear and confusion, especially women and children. Revellers said that the Israeli army has divided the area into sections and labelled a number of houses with notices bearing names of Lebanese and Syrian villages and cities. The labels also bore numbers for the coordination of warplanes which were seen operating during the training sessions. Settlements in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and 48 Lands were also subjected to frequent sirens part of the drill-training. Sources from the army say the training is intended to display Israeli’s readiness for any forthcoming attacks. The mounting tension on the northern front and in both Syria and Lebanon has heightened fears of a possible war in the region.