LOC21:05
18:05 GMT
GAZA, May 23 (KUNA) -- An Israeli military official said Sunday that
northern Israel has not witnessed such a calm period since Israel was founded,
adding that the "IDF could be ready to fight within hours."
Israeli Defence Forces Commander of the Northern region, Brigadier Gady
Eisenkott in a statement quoted by local radio, said that fears of a security
escalation reflected by the media stem from the efforts "Hezbollah is known
for."
He added that it was not in the interest of any of the parties involved to
head into renewed clashes, affirming that the IDF was able to face battle
simultaneously on the Syrian, Lebanese and Gaza fronts.
The statement came during Israel's initiation of a five-day homeland
missile defense exercise Turning-Point IV, the biggest military maneuver in
its history, aimed at testing Israel's capabilities for an attempted war
expected to be faced by a large number of rockets on Israeli towns. (end)
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