IDF Resumes Live Firing Drills in Southern Hebron Hills After Years
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
The IDF has resumed live firing drills in Masafer Yatta, southern Hebron, after years of suspension due to construction. The 405th Artillery Battalion conducted the first drills in firing zone 918, which was previously declared a military area by the High Court of Justice. The IDF stressed the necessity of such training grounds for operational readiness.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- IDF resumed live firing drills in Masafer Yatta, southern Hebron, after a long hiatus.
- The 405th Artillery Battalion conducted the first drills in firing zone 918.
- Palestinian residents filmed parts of the military exercises.
- The area was declared a military firing zone by the High Court of Justice.
- Illegal construction had previously prevented live fire training in the zone.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have resumed live firing drills in the southern Hebron hills, specifically in firing zone 918, known as Masafer Yatta, for the first time in many years. The drills were conducted by the 405th Artillery Battalion and took place in close proximity to Palestinian hamlets in the area. Footage of the exercises was captured by Palestinian residents.
Masafer Yatta has been the subject of legal disputes for years. In 2022, the High Court of Justice ruled that there was no impediment to evacuating Palestinian residents from the area, which had been declared a military firing zone. However, due to construction and settlement activity in the region, the IDF had refrained from conducting live fire training there for an extended period.
An IDF spokesperson stated that while numerous training exercises previously took place in the area, illegal construction had prevented live fire drills. The IDF emphasized the importance of training areas and firing zones for improving the operational readiness of forces. The resumption of these drills signifies a significant shift in the military's use of the area, following years where terrain limitations and legal and civilian realities hindered full-scale training.