Officials said the Israel Army has been training combat troops to detect
and capture tunnels built by Hamas and Hizbullah, Middle East Newsline reported. They said the Army has
also planned urban area training facilities that would contain tunnels
similar to those in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
"We have assessed that Hamas and Hizbullah will make extensive use of
tunnels in any future war," an official said.
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The military's Ground Forces Command has approved the construction of at
least seven urban warfare training centers by 2012. Two of the facilities
were designed to contain tunnels for combat units to enhance combat skills
against Hamas and Hizbullah.
Israeli troops encountered Hizbullah tunnels in the 2006 war in Lebanon
and Hamas tunnels in the 2009 war in the Gaza Strip. Officials said both
Arab forces were believed to have vastly expanded their network of tunnels
and bunkers over the last year.
The Ground Forces Command has also decided to increase training in the
urban warfare centers. Officials said 25 percent of infantry training would
take place in the existing 15 urban warfare centers as well as those to be
constructed over the next 18 months.
Under the decision, the command would also expand urban warfare training
centers to allow for operations by main battle tanks and heavy armored
combat vehicles. Officials said joint infantry-armored urban warfare
exercises would begin in 2011.