Hizbullah fighters forced "Israeli" army back to training school

Source: AP, 13-11-2006
JERUSALEM (AL-QUDS) - The "Israeli" military will restore its guerrilla warfare training center following its experience fighting Hizbullah resistance in Lebanon, using a distinctly modern method - paintball.
During the 34-day war last summer, Hizbullah fighters exacted a heavy toll against the "Israelis" with ambushes, mortars and anti-tank missiles. While not admitting that lack of guerrilla training was a factor in its shortcomings, the "Israeli" military is planning to restart the program, according to the current issue of the soldiers` weekly, Bamahaneh.
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 Hizbullah.
The military has been harshly criticized for the way it handled the latest fighting in Lebanon, and many soldiers, especially reservists, complained their equipment and training were inadequate.
Soldiers will learn camouflage techniques, navigation by GPS satellite systems, construction of hidden outposts and other skills, Bamahaneh said, and they will test their newly won abilities in paintball maneuvers.
Lt. Col. Lior Lifshitz, commander of the Elyakim base, told the weekly that he hopes to set up a permanent paintball course at the base. In addition, the guerrilla training will 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 center, which is to be operational within a few months, will also supply guerrilla warfare equipment to the various army units, the weekly reported.