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Israel Starts Annual Defense Drill

   Some  officials  in Lebanon have expressed concern that Israel may use
   the civil defense exercise as a cover for a military strike

   VOA News 23 May 2010

   Israeli  authorities  say the country is starting a nationwide defense
   drill  to prepare its civilians, soldiers and government for potential
   rocket and missile attacks.
   The  Israeli  military  said Sunday emergency sirens will sound across
   the  country  during  a  five-day  period,  and  school  children will
   practice entering shelters and protected spaces.
   It  is  the  fourth  consecutive  year  Israel  is  conducting such an
   exercise.
   Some  officials  in Lebanon have expressed concern that Israel may use
   the civil defense exercise as a cover for a military strike.
   Israel  and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006 that killed more
   than  1,200  Lebanese  and  about  160  Israelis.   During  the  war,
   Hezbollah fired thousands of missiles from Lebanon into Israel.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP.

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