Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — The Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah has held its largest
exercise in years in what was meant to simulate an attack on Israel.

The Lebanese daily Al Jumhuriya reported that Hizbullah staged a
three-day exercise from Aug. 17 in eastern and southern Lebanon. In a report on Aug. 24, the newspaper said Hizbullah deployed up to 10,000 fighters, many of whom were deemed new recruits.

Since 2006, Hizbullah formed five brigades to attack Israel.

Lebanese sources said Hizbullah also staged exercises with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard in several parts of Iran in August in which 2,000 Hizbullah fighters participated.

The Aug. 17 exercise in Lebanon was said to have included thousands of new recruits, ages 16 to 20. Al Jumhuriya said Hizbullah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah as well as senior IRGC officers attended the exercise, most of which took place in the Bekaa Valley next to Syria.

Hizbullah has been training recruits in such skills as anti-tank missile
fire, improvised explosive devices and unmanned aerial vehicle operations.

Al Jumhuriya said the exercise stemmed from an Iranian order for
Hizbullah to prepare for war with Israel. The newspaper said the order came
from Iranian National Security Council secretary-general Said Jalili, who recently met
Nasrallah.

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