In an address to Israeli military officers on June 9, Barak envisioned a
war with far greater Israeli casualties than that against Hamas, Middle East Newsline reported. The
minister said
the next war would take place under more difficult conditions than the
Israeli air, naval and ground campaign in the Gaza Strip, a flat area of 360
square kilometers.
"The country will have many challenges, but what matters is the
resiliency of the Israel Defense Forces and its ability to come out on top
in every battle," Barak said.
"You must not delude yourselves. During combat
things have a tendency to go wrong and, in the end, the completion of the
mission is measured by bravery and determination."
On June 9, the military demonstrated interservice interoperability in an
exercise in southern Israel. The exercise combined infantry, engineering,
armored, artillery and the air force.
"This demonstrated various combat techniques used to break through
complex ground obstacles and techniques for combat in built-up areas," a
military statement said. "This demonstration included a presentation of the
relevant logistical and medical support used during combat."
Officials said the military has intensified training, particularly in
urban areas. They said the military-led Turning Point-3 civil defense
exercise, held in late May, envisioned missile strikes on Israel from
Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
"We are faced with many challenges from distant lands through nations
that share a border with us, threats from conventional weapons and threats
from those who are trying to attain unconventional abilities," Israeli
Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Dan Harel said.
Harel said the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip demonstrated
interoperability between the air force and army. The general said the army
and air force would develop air combat support tactics on the level of
battalion.
"These tactics enable the combat plans intended to assist the different
brigades on the battlefield," Harel said. "In the future, these tactics will
also be implemented on the battalion level. The information regarding aerial
attacks will be transferred directly to the combat planes from the situation
room of the brigade commander by the aerial assistance officer, who acts as
representative of the Israel Air Force."
The augmented exercise training schedule was ordered in wake of the
Israeli war with Hizbullah in 2006. The military was said to have performed
poorly in
ground operations against Hizbullah commandos and rocket launches.
"Today I can say that the IDF has learned the lessons of the war, has
implemented them, and is now a stronger army -- more adept and more
qualified to deal with the substantial security challenges
that face us today," Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who also addressed
the officers, said.
On June 15, Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi convened
senior officers for a review of the war in the Gaza Strip. Ashkenazi said
the anti-Hamas campaign drew on lessons from the Hizbullah war, with
successes attributed to preparation by the standing army and reserves.
"Being prepared for war is the IDF's constant mission, and we must be
prepared to our utmost ability," Ashkenazi said. "The conclusions of this
operation are not only relevant in the southern front, and they must be
implemented in a general work plan."
