Hazmat units, emergency text messages and drill after drill after drill; with growing concerns over Syria, Iran situations, Home Front Command is leaving nothing to chance

With ongoing public, military and diplomatic debates focusing on the possibility of a confrontation with Iran and growing fears that the lack of stability in Syria could lead to the use of unconventional weapons, the Home Front Command has been holding a series of drills throughout the country.

While this week´s Home Front Command drills have been focusing on the northern regions, the IDF has been seeking to increase awareness and preparedness among the general Israeli public which is why text messages were sent to hundreds of thousands of citizens´ cellular phones – if needed, these messages will be sent should an attack be imminent.

The hazmat unit also had a prominent role in the recent drills.

Home Front Command Northern District Deputy Commander Lieutenant Colonel Moshe Huli said that since the beginning of the year his soldier´s practiced dozens of scenarios.

"The truth is that we have been training more than Golani and the Paratroopers… Today everyone understands that the Home Front Command will be at the center of things in the next war and in the last few years we have trained like we have never trained before.

"There is awareness, (we have held) many exercises and improvements are evident in both how we function and our cooperation with other authorities: Police, Magen David Adom and of course, the local authorities." (Copyright 2012 © Yedioth Internet 08/16/12)