Lebanon is observing a giant Israeli military drill that began across its border Tuesday, but has not yet issued an official statement on the matter.
Israel launched the drill, its largest in nearly 20 years, at a time of rising tensions with Iran-backed Hezbollah and Syria.
The exercise, set to run until Sept. 14, will involve thousands of ground, sea and air forces, and aims to prepare soldiers for “preserving the current stability in the northern sector,” AP reported.
A source close to the Lebanese government said policymakers there “will be observing the events without issuing an official comment.”
Walid Sukkarieh, a retired Lebanese general and current member of Parliament, told Arab News that “the maneuver is taking place amid the escalating security events in Syria.”
He added: “Israel thought that the Syrian war would be beneficial as it would have turned Syria into a security belt protecting Israel. However, the recent developments were in favor of Iran, the Syrian regime and Hezbollah, representing an existential threat to Israel.”
Sukkarieh said that the Israeli maneuver simulates a mock infiltration and attack by resistance members or larger groups against Israel. The drill includes more than 20 brigades and tens of thousands of soldiers, reservists, volunteers, land, naval and air forces, as well as Special Forces.
He said Israel is expected to test various weapons, along with unmanned vehicles and robot fighters.
Sukkarieh pointed out that the first stage of the Israeli maneuver “will feature the evacuation of civilians from the areas close to the borders with Lebanon, to keep them out of harm’s way if Hezbollah launches missiles on the northern side of Israel.”
The second stage will include the involvement of 30,000 to 40,000 soldiers, suggesting that Israel envisages about 150,000 soldiers being deployed in the event of a real war, Sukkarieh said.
“In this maneuver, Israel will be fighting against soldiers pretending to be Hezbollah … Hezbollah has thousands of missiles and 10,000 experienced fighters, who have already participated in the wars in Iraq and Syria,” he said.
Sukkarieh added that the maneuver is “an integral war scenario waged on the Lebanese and Syrian fronts, to reach bigger goals: International resolutions and a new strategic status quo.”
He believes that “the world will be monitoring this maneuver, each country through its own means: Satellites, spies, etc. ... Everyone will be able to draw lessons.”
Sukkarieh added: “Hezbollah already knows that Israel is preparing itself for a war, especially after the developments in Syria and Iraq. Israel will not wait 10 years, allowing its enemies to prepare themselves and restore their strength … The Israeli ideology, in terms of war, does not wait for a national security threat to take a step forward.”

Source: Arab News