Israel held a large exercise Tuesday, simulating a missile striking its nuclear reactor near Dimona

Israel held a large exercise Tuesday, simulating a missile striking its nuclear reactor near Dimona in the southern Negev desert, a military spokeswoman confirmed.

The military did not provide details on the drill because it has been classified as top secret, but Israel Radio reported that hundreds of soldiers, police, a medical staff, rescue workers and other personnel participated.

The exercise, codenamed Operation Fernando was overseen by the Israeli army's Home Front Command and the Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC).

The last time Israel held a similar drill was in 2004.

Israel is trying to implement lessons learnt from the March earthquake-triggered nuclear accident in Japan.

Japan's Fukushima plant has been leaking radiation into the air, the soil and the Pacific Ocean ever since it was hit by a 9-magnitude earthquake and a devastating tsunami in March.