In a joint operation, the Defense Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces have re-equipped 97 civilian emergency standby squads in communities along the Lebanese border.

As part of the initiative to arm rapid response teams nationwide, more than 9,000 Israeli-made Arad assault rifles were purchased at a cost of 50 million shekels ($13.5 million), the ministry said on Monday.

The rifles, which are developed and manufactured by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), are in addition to 5,000 Arad rifles purchased for the civilian defense units since the current war began nearly one year ago.