'Preparing for war': IDF drill in West Bank simulates another Hezbollah fight

The Nahal Brigade's 931st Battalion, which operated in Lebanon three months ago, is now conducting intensive counterterrorism operations in the West Bank while maintaining readiness for potential conflict in the north. This week, the unit completed a two-day exercise in the Kana Stream area designed to replicate combat conditions in southern Lebanon's dense, mountainous terrain.

Battalion commander Lt. Col. N. Described the transition from daily West Bank operations - including nighttime arrests in Tulkarm and weapons searches in villages - to preparing for potential northern conflict. "We operate in the Ephraim Brigade every day, from weapons searches to arrests and questioning in the field," He said. "I arrived here right as there was a string of attacks. There is no doubt that raised the tension."

He outlined the battalion's operational approach: "Alongside that, of course, is the daily mission of protecting civilians and thwarting terrorist attacks. The directive is clear. There are targets the battalion identifies based on gunfire in the area or in the villages. The battalion intelligence officer analyzes the terrain and we initiate offensive operations. We do not wait for the Shin Bet to tell us whom to arrest. We take a great deal of initiative at the battalion and brigade levels."

The exercise incorporated realistic terrain challenges, including deep wadis, steep ridges and dense vegetation. "We made use of the terrain that best simulates Lebanon," Lt. Col. N. Said. The full battalion exercise included fire support, drones, command structures, enemy simulation and explosive drone components.

The commander acknowledged that extreme heat presented physical challenges, requiring maneuvers to be timed and some postponed until cooler hours. "War is challenging, and moving through difficult terrain with heavy loads under strict procedures is exactly what prepares us," He noted.

A significant focus involved responding to drone threats. "It is no secret that there was frustration in the military over this threat in the early stages," Lt. Col. N. Said. "But today we are preparing for the war that will come, not the war that was. A structured response procedure has been written, there are defensive methods and technological solutions for protection and interception that the military is developing."

He emphasized that soldier confidence was paramount: "Once there is a clear procedure and the soldier understands what he can do at his level to deal with the threat, it raises confidence by several levels."

The battalion commander concluded that the exercise's greatest achievement was morale-focused: "A soldier came up to me at the end of the exercise and said it had been challenging and difficult, but that his confidence in his commanders, his weapons and his fellow soldiers had increased. Once that happens, I know I have done my job."