Israel is preparing itself for the possibility of simultaneous missile strikes and terror attacks by holding a drill next week.

According to Deputy Defence Minister Matan Vilnai, multiple attacks on civilians “would very likely happen during a war”.

He made the comments during a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee meeting yesterday, in which it was announced the Home Front Command will simulate defending against such an assault as part of a large-scale drill to be held next week.

The Israel Defence Forces drill, codenamed "Turning Point 3”, is the largest exercise ever in Israel's history and will be based on lessons learned in different exercises held over the last two years, including ones learned during the Second Lebanon War and Operation Cast Lead, Israel's recent offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

Committee chairman MK Tzachi Hanegbi said: “In every future confrontation the home front will suffer the brunt of the offence.

“The better prepared Israel is, the smaller the number of casualties and the lesser the damage to vital national infrastructure will be,” he added.