Israel pulverizes Syria, Gaza in mock exercise

In a high-tech war game exercise, Israel yesterday used advanced weaponry to attack Syria and practiced new urban combat techniques to conquer a simulated section of the Gaza Strip in a show of strength while tensions with Syria and the Palestinians grow daily.

About 200 IDF cadets set to graduate from officer training school used F-16s and ground weapons to destroy simulated Syrian military installations before conquering the mock Palestinian village complete with a large billboard of a smiling Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

F16’s dropped laser-guided bombs on a mock Syrian base and infantry snipers fired bullets at metal targets and balloons representing Syrian soldiers. An artillery battery laid down a constant barrage on a nearby “enemy” hill, code-named “Shirley.”

The assault ended with the engineering corps clearing mines and laying bridges over tank traps so the armor and infantry could smash through the final defenses.

After defeating Syria, the cadets moved on to the mock Palestinian village, a cluster of little huts with painted windows and wrecked cars strewn across the streets, where the goal was to wipe the area clean of terrorists while leaving civilians unharmed. The village featured a billboard with a smiling Arafat holding a finger in the air against the backdrop of a Palestinian flag.

The tanks advanced first, followed by infantry soldiers using the heavily armored flanks as cover. The soldiers went house-to-house, hurling grenades inside those with armed terrorists and spraying the rooms with bullets.

“You have seen the abilities and techniques that were not available four years ago,” Ron-Tal told the graduating officers upon completion of the exercise.

Ron-Tal said experience and new technologies have allowed infantry, armor, combat engineers, field intelligence and the airforce to work together in built-up areas.

Tensions between Israel and Syria have been increasing weekly. Israel holds Syria responsible for a spate of Hamas suicide bombings since Damascus openly harbors the top Hamas leadership.

The Jewish State last month assassinated Hamas leader Iz a-Din al Sheikh Khalil in Syria following a double suicide bombing, and Israeli security source have told WorldNetDaily Israel will continue to target Hamas in Syria.

“The fact that Hamas is operating from Syria will not grant it immunity,” said Sharon spokesperson Raanan Gissin.