Paintball for Israeli army

2006-11-14 09:15

Jerusalem - The Israeli military will restore its guerrilla warfare training centre as a result of its experiences in the summer's war in Lebanon, according to a military publication, using a distinctly modern method - paintball.

The Israeli military closed down its guerrilla warfare training facility at the Elyakim base in Israel's north after Israeli forces pulled out of Lebanon in 2000, following an 18-year guerrilla war against Hezbollah forces.

This year, Israeli soldiers encountered Hezbollah again, fighting a 34-day war that included ground operations through Hezbollah-controlled areas. Hezbollah fighters exacted a heavy toll against the Israelis with ambushes, mortars and anti-tank missiles.

The war ended inconclusively, and the military has absorbed harsh criticism for the way it handled the conflict. Many soldiers, especially reservists, complained that their equipment and training were inadequate.

While not admitting that the lack of guerrilla training was a factor in the shortcomings of the war, the military is planning to restart it, according to the current issue of the soldiers' weekly, Bamahaneh.

Paintball

Soldiers will learn camouflage techniques, navigation by GPS satellite systems, construction of hidden outposts and other skills, the weekly said, and they will test their newly won abilities in paintball manoeuvres.

Lieutenant Colonel Lior Lifshitz, commander of the Elyakim base, told the weekly that he hopes to set up a permanent paintball course at the base.

The guerrilla training, on the other hand, would be taken to all the bases in the northern command area, with courses for both soldiers and officers.

"Our goal is to establish a cycle, so that within two years officers would receive extensive training and soldiers some training," Lifshitz told the publication.

The new centre, which is to be operational within a few months, will also supply guerrilla warfare equipment to the various army units, the weekly reported.

- AP