Israel troops are conducting military drills to get prepared for being deployed in Lebanon, in a move Tel Aviv says is aimed at preventing “rocket attacks by Hizbullah,” Israeli sources say.

Israel is conducting drills at its Elyakim training base, near Haifa, to simulate attacks on Hizbullah targets in southern Lebanon, Haaretz reported.

An Israeli colonel told Haaretz that the U.S. military officers had advised Israel to deploy its soldiers in Lebanon during the 33-day war in 2006, hinting that Israel will do so in any offensive on Lebanon in the future.

The Elyakim base is covered with many simulated minefields and camouflaged bunkers. Israeli troops are exercising to pass those spots and find “rocket sites,” the report added. According to the plan, Israeli troops will then be transported to Golan Heights by helicopters to be trained conducting other operations.