At air force graduation, PM also warns that war will break out if Israel does not maintain control of West Bank's Jordan Valley

Military says the 5-day drill, known as 'First Harvest,' is the largest since a 2017 exercise that also mimicked fight against terror group in southern Lebanon

PM and IDF chief visit large military exercise in northern Israel amid growing tensions with Iran and its proxy Hezbollah

Move sparks fears of a mass exodus from residential areas regularly exposed to terrorist rocket fire and incendiary balloons

But Aviv Kohavi also signals to local leaders of communities near border of Palestinian enclave that IDF will not allow arson balloons to be launched into Israel forever

Investigation into March shooting by Palestinian gunman who killed Israeli soldier and rabbi in West Bank finds troops at scene did not act as expected of them

In a letter, Gil Messing says he doesn't want controversy surrounding his 2015 actions in fulfillment of his civic duty to damage the army's reputation

Annual event at Reuven Rivlin's official residence in Jerusalem also attended by Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu and army's Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi

Rivlin says return of Zachary Baumel's remains is a testament to commitment to bringing back other missing troops; IDF chief says the day 'dissolves barriers and unites the nation'

Kohavi says military hit 'ostensibly civilian' buildings that were in fact 'terrorist dens,' will continue to attack if necessary