The Israel Defense Forces on Monday morning announced the start of a two-day military exercise simulating “a range of scenarios” in the country’s north.

The exercise, dubbed “Shield of Strength,” opened with a surprise test of the IDF’s 210th “Bashan” Division’s preparedness, the army said.

The IDF warned that as part of the exercise, explosions could be heard, alongside an increased presence of soldiers and military aircraft in the area.

The military emphasized that the drill had been pre-scheduled by the IDF Operations Directorate.

On Sunday, the IDF eliminated Hezbollah “chief of staff” Haytham Ali Tabatabai via a precision airstrike in Beirut.

Hezbollah in a statement on Sunday said that Tabatabai had become “a martyr for Lebanon following the treacherous Israeli attack.” However, the terrorist group stopped short of threatening a retaliatory attack.

Although there is currently no change in the instructions for civilians on the Israeli home front, Jerusalem already has attack plans in place should Hezbollah choose to retaliate, according to Israel’s Channel 12 News.

A previous large-scale exercise held by the IDF in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley this month reportedly showed that the army was unprepared for cross-border attacks by unmanned aerial vehicles.

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