IDF Simulates Dozens of ‘Extreme’ Oct 7-Like Scenarios in Major Yehuda and Shomron Drill

The IDF has concluded a large-scale military exercise in Yehuda and Shomron this week, bringing together the Central Command’s Yehuda and Shomron Division and the newly formed 96th “Gilad” Division, which is responsible for securing Israel’s border with Jordan, the military announced Wednesday.

The three-day operation tested around 40 “extreme” scenarios, according to the military. It incorporated 180 aircraft from the Israeli Air Force, as well as units from the Technological and Logistics Directorate, other IDF branches, the Israel Police, and Magen David Adom emergency services.

This marked the first time both regional divisions under Central Command have trained jointly.

The IDF stated that troops rehearsed responses to complex threats including coordinated terrorist infiltrations into multiple communities, attacks on army outposts, urban combat situations, and large-scale casualty events. The exercise also simulated rescue missions and the rapid mobilization of the 96th Division’s reservist brigades.

According to the military, the drill tested new operational plans combining defensive and offensive tactics within Central Command.

The IDF said the entire exercise was “based on the lessons learned from October 7,” emphasizing early airstrikes to preempt attacks, the quick activation of standby forces, the use of special operations units, and the rapid mobilization of the army’s full response network “to ensure decisive impact in the initial hours.”