By Abdul Raouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM

The Israeli army on Thursday announced the conclusion of military exercises simulating combat scenarios with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia.

According to an army statement, the drills included airborne exercises, helicopter and fighter maneuvers, and tank and artillery training.

The wargames also simulated close-range urban warfare scenarios and rugged-terrain combat.

The exercises marked the final stage of a 17-week battalion-level combat-training program aimed at enhancing coordination between the Israeli army and air force.

The Israeli military conducts frequent maneuvers simulating potential combat scenarios with Hezbollah, with which it fought a major conflict in 2006.