Israel launches military exercises in Mount Hermon and the Shebaa Farms

Israel has launched what it described as “large-scale” military exercises in the Mount Hermon area within Syrian territory, and in the Shebaa Farms in southern Lebanon, as part of preparations for a possible escalation on the northern front with Hezbollah.

The Israeli army announced today the start of wide military exercises in both areas, as part of a plan aimed at raising combat readiness and enhancing coordination between ground and air forces. This step comes as an extension of a series of drills carried out by the Galilee Division in recent weeks.

The army clarified in its statement that the exercises include simulating field scenarios such as:

• Dealing with attempted infiltrations across the northern border.
• Repelling potential attacks by hostile groups.
• Testing the effectiveness of monitoring and early-warning systems in mountainous regions.

The Israeli army spokesperson had announced that the exercises would begin on Sunday in the vicinity of Mount Hermon, and would include extensive use of various weapons, infantry units, and armored forces, with the aim of “raising readiness and enhancing the ability to deal with complex combat scenarios.”

These exercises come amid developments taking place in the region since the fall of the Ba’ath regime on December 8, 2024, and just days after clashes with local armed groups in the town of Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside.