Israel conducts regional war simulation

JERUSALEM, May 22 (UPI) -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said a drill conducted by his country's military helped show Israel's preparedness for regional war conditions.

Barak said the military drill that simulated a war involving Israel and Arab states and terrorist groups was important as it revealed how well Israel could defend itself on multiple fronts should war break out with regional powers such as Iran and Syria, Haaretz reported Friday.

"What we witnessed bolsters our confidence that we have people we can rely on," the defense minister said of Thursday's drill.

The military exercise also focused on the Israeli air force's ability to respond to missile and rocket attacks targeting Israel, Haaretz said.

The Israeli newspaper said the drill came after Iran test-fired a long-range ballistic missile Wednesday that could potentially reach Israeli lands.

Additional specific details regarding the drill, which involved both ground and air military forces, were not reported.