Israeli military simulates Iran-related 'worst-case' scenarios in Eilat drill

2026-02-12 - 21:05

Israeli forces carried out a large-scale military exercise Thursday in the southern city of Eilat and the adjacent Arava Valley, simulating what defense officials describe as "extremely dangerous scenarios" linked to escalating tensions with Iran. The drill, reported by daily Maariv, unfolds as the United States expands its naval presence in the Middle East and nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain deadlocked. Scenarios Include Missiles, Maritime Threats According to an unnamed military source cited by Maariv, the exercise prepared troops for multiple contingency scenarios: missile barrages targeting Eilat and its surroundings, strikes on tourist infrastructure, cross-border infiltration attempts from Jordan, and maritime attacks launched from Yemen toward the Gulf of Eilat. The simulation also included response drills against armed groups reaching Israeli territory by land or sea to carry out attacks. The army did not disclose the exercise's duration or further operational details. Regional Context of Escalating Tensions The drill occurs against a backdrop of heightened military posture by both Washington and Tehran. The United States has deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to the region and is preparing a second carrier for potential Middle East deployment. President Donald Trump has warned Iran that failure to reach a nuclear agreement invites military action, citing Operation Midnight Hammer—U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June. Iran maintains its nuclear program is solely for peaceful electricity generation.