New Gas Masks Distributed

March 31, 2010

One of the chief military threats to Israel is missile attacks from terror groups in Syria and Iran. For example, a report from Kuwaiti daily Al-Siyassa, in the second half of 2009, said Hizbullah was believed to be acquiring protective gear to be used against chemical weapon attacks, raising the prospect of the terror group using such weapons.  

Unlike in the past, this time, the Israel Postal Company handed out the masks, which included new children masks designed for those eight years old and younger. The IDF Web site said the mask is capable of being connected to a bottle for infants and can be worn without changing the batteries for 60 hours—20 times the battery life of normal rubber masks.

In December of 2009, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that the IDF simulated an emergency distribution of gas masks as preparation for an attack before the full distribution could be completed. The drill, however, reportedly did not include the deployment of forces into the field and was designed to help plan for operational problems.  

Though 2009 was a relatively quiet year regarding missile attacks compared to recent years, attacks from Gaza and even Lebanon still occurred. Israel is currently working on multiple missile-defense systems and engaged in a major missile-defense drill with the Americans last November.  

By Joshua Spurlock, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio

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