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Israeli military cancels ground forces drills amid oppressive heat wave

IDF Ground Forces OC Maj. Gen. Yoel Strick temporarily cancels all exercises as temperatures soar throughout the country.

Israeli soldiers take part in a training exercise. Credit: Israel Defense Forces.
Israeli soldiers take part in a training exercise. Credit: Israel Defense Forces.

Due to a heat wave raging throughout the country, all Israel Defense Forces ground drills are being put on hold, the Israeli military announced on Sunday.

IDF Ground Forces Commander Maj. Gen. Yoel Strick canceled exercises until at least Tuesday, in accordance with directives issued to all IDF units regarding operations under the current extreme weather conditions. The directives were issued last Thursday, but were heightened over the weekend as temperatures continued to rise.

According to the directives, Israel Air Force and Paratroopers Brigade group activities scheduled to take place outdoors this week are to be conducted in air-conditioned halls instead.

The Israel Meteorological Service issued a warning on Saturday that the heat wave, which is seeing consistent temperatures of some 40 degrees Celisus (104 degrees Fahrenheit), is expected to last until next week.

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