JERUSALEM (JTA) — A national exercise simulating rocket strikes took place in all schools and kindergartens in Israel.
The exercise, held Thursday morning, was planned in advance as part of the 2013 training schedule for the country and was staged by the Home Front Command in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the Israeli Police, Magen David Adom, the Israeli Fire and Rescue Services, and local authorities.
Sirens were heard throughout the country on Thursday morning, sending school children headed for bomb shelters and other secure areas. The emphasis of the exercise was "the rapid movement of children from schools and kindergartens into the nearest secure areas," according to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces.
