IDF, police readiness drills continue for second day as forces train in Eilat for Oct.7-like attack

The aim of the exercise is to improve the division’s capabilities and readiness in the face of a large-scale October 7-style surprise attack, based on the lessons drawn from the massacre.

The IDF began Operation “Kadmat Homa” (Advancing the Wall) in the sector of the 80th Division, near Eilat and the surrounding areas, the military announced on Monday, exactly a month before the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre.

The aim of the exercise is to improve the division’s capabilities and readiness in the face of a large-scale October 7-style surprise attack, based on the lessons drawn from the massacre.

All of the division’s forces will participate in the exercise, alongside Israel's air, naval, and additional security forces.

As a result, the military noted a noticeable increase in the movement of security personnel, aircraft, naval vessels, and vehicles in the Eilat area and along Israel's eastern border, but reassured that no security incident is taking place.

Israel Police said it is participating in the security exercise under the name Operation "Southern Wind," led by Israel Police's Southern District under the command of Southern District Police Commander Haim Bublil and District Commander Alon Kalfon.

Police from the Eilat district and the nearby region will be operating alongside security and emergency services.

As part of the exercise, the forces will practice responding to a range of complex extreme scenarios modeled after October 7, including responding to a surprise attack, developing security incidents, multiple simultaneous scenes, controlling traffic routes, maintaining public order, and providing a rapid, coordinated response.

Operation Dawn 2.0

Both Advancing the Wall and Southern Wind come on the tail end of the IDF's announcement of Operation Dawn 2.0 on Sunday.

Under the command of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, Dawn 2.0 was a surprise exercise meant to test the heat-of-the-moment readiness and abilities of the military to deal with large-scale attacks, as part of the country's preparations to strengthen defense ahead of the holiday period.

As part of the exercise, surprise scenarios and multi-scene events will be practiced in all possible “theaters of war,” the military explained. Commanders from all units of the military were called up, forces mobilized, and the IDF's reserve capabilities are being assessed.