Hezbollah on 'high alert' as Israel prepares drill

(press tv) Israeli tanks maneuver during military drill near Ein Zivan in the occupied Golan Heights. As Israel prepares to launch a large-scale military drill, Lebanon's Hezbollah in cooperation with Lebanese Army forces is on high alert along the border.  Unnamed army sources said Saturday that the Lebanese Army has heightened its security measures along the southern border with Israel to repel possible threats during Israel's'Turning Point 3' military exercise which will last for five days, Al Manar reported Saturday.  In addition to the military patrols, Hezbollah forces will be on full alert "to respond to any possible aggression", according to the report.  The daily quoted the sources as saying that the security measures are taken despite UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon) assurances that the drill would be "defensive in nature".  The exercise will include the Israeli army, Home Front Command, Emergency Economy, Israeli Police, government ministries and local authorities.  Israel's National Emergency Authority Chief, Brig. Gen. (res.) Ze'ev Zuk-Rom, said formerly that the drill is to be held based on the lessons Israel learnt during its war against Hezbollah in the summer of 2006.  Israel which launched the 33-day war to destroy Hezbollah's military power was forced to eventually leave southern Lebanon without achieving any of its objectives.