In what may soon become a reality chas v’sholom, the IDF’s Homefront Command on Tuesday will be conducting a major simulated missile attack in the Lachish region, which includes the Yoav and Sapir councils, as well as Ashkelon, Kiryat Malachi, Kiryat Gat and Ashdod.

The army’s homefront commander states the timing has nothing to do with the recent escalation in rocket attacks, explaining the exercise was planned months ago.

Despite Hamas announced 24-hour ceasefire, three Kassam rockets landed in southern Israel on Monday. According to Arab media, Hamas agreed to the one-day halt in attacks in compliance with an Egyptian request to enable 80 trucks of humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.

ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) Director Yuval Diskin told the government earlier in the week that Hamas now possesses rockets capable of striking the areas included in the simulated exercise.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)