PM: Home front drill preplanned

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sent a calming message to Lebanon, after Hezbollah declared a heightened state of alert ahead of Israel's largest ever home front exercise. Hezbollah mobilized thousands of fighters to southern Lebanon ahead of the Israeli drill which Prime Minster Netanyahu explained was "a routine exercise which was scheduled a long time ago, and not the result of an unusual security-related development." At the start of his weekly cabinet meeting, The Prime Minister explained the exercise is aimed at evaluating the country's preparedness for various scenarios, including rocket attacks and planting of dirty bomb and hazardous materials. The exercise, which is being held for the fourth year in a row, will include air raid sirens across the country, at workplaces, in schools, in hospitals, in the local authorities and in government offices.