Tel aviv: The Israeli army has initiated a three-day military exercise in the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley. A military statement highlighted that the drill will involve the use of drones and various weapons, with residents expected to notice an increased presence of security forces and aircraft in the area.

According to Anadolu Agency, the exercise is designed to simulate scenarios similar to those experienced on October 7, 2023. The events of that date have become a reference point for military preparedness in Israel.

The backdrop to these exercises includes a significant escalation in violence in the region. The Israeli army's assault on the Gaza Strip in October 2023 resulted in the deaths of more than 69,000 individuals, predominantly women and children, and left over 170,000 injured. Concurrently, heightened military activities in the occupied West Bank led to the deaths of over 1,069 Palestinians and injuries to 10,300 others, as reported by Palestinian sources.

In a significant legal development, the International Court of Justice ruled last July that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal, urging the dismantling of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.