War Ready By Summer

The Israeli Defence Forces are training so that they will be ready for war by summer.

A high-ranking source in the Israel Defense Forces said Sunday that the IDF is aiming to have reached a high level of preparedness on the northern front by next summer.

In order to reach this target, military reserve units have conducted combat training with live ammunition over the last two months, and division level exercises based on a scenario of war in the north are planned for the next several months.

The program is not in response to assessments by military intelligence, the source added. Hezbollah and Syria have not indicated that they are planning for a war next summer, he said.

Concerns are growing, however, among IDF officials regarding Syria's continued shipment of arms to Hezbollah in Lebanon, although it seems the terror organization is not yet in possession of the kinds of missiles it had during the war.

There is also a possibility that sources affiliated with global Jihad, who have been increasing their presence, will try to create provocations leading to war.

The IDF has been extensively criticized over the level of training of ground troops and for its lack of preparedness during the July-August war with Hezbollah.

Extensively criticized for the outcome of the Hizballah war is an understatement.

As to the idea that Hizballah is not in possesion of missiles similar to what they had this past summer, what exactly do the intel folks think that Syria has been shipping to Hizballah? Bottle rockets?

Well what ever Syria and Hizballah have it is good to be prepared. Live fire training is excellent. In fact the live fire exercises of this past summer ought to be very useful in spotting deficiencies. The question is - will they be corrected?