JERUSALEM- US and Israeli military officials announced that they havelaunched a month-long joint military drill that simulates a missile attackon Tel Aviv.
About 2,500 soldiers, including 1,400 marines and 1,100 naval personnelfrom the US European Command (USEUCOM), along with 2,000 Israeli AerialDefense troops, logistics units and other Israel Defense Forces (IDF) unitsare deployed in Israel to take part in the so-called “Juniper Cobra 2018″drill, which is said to be the largest joint combat exercise between thetwo states. In addition, two US Navy vessels arrived in Israel to takepart in the exercise.
“For more than four weeks, they will train shoulder to shoulder, the sameas we will fight in times of crisis. It’s not just about an exercise,”Brig. Gen. Zvika Haimovich, Israel’s air defense commander, said.
He also added that the military drill “will serve as an opportunity”for Israeli troops “to enhance operational capabilities in the faceof high-trajectory threats.”
As part of the ninth Cobra military drill, the forces of the two countrieswill perform simulations of missile threat scenarios, including testingof the anti-ballistic missile system Arrow, the Iron Dome anti-rocketsystem, the medium-range interceptor Patriot missile systems and David’sSling, which is designed to shoot down mid-range missiles launchedby Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“In the coming weeks we will train together to face complex and challengingscenarios, which are relevant to the dynamic range of threats that we mustbe prepared to face,” Haimovich stated.
In February, relations between Israel and Lebanon deteriorated dueto Israel’s plans to build a wall along Lebanon’s southern border as wellas over the eastern Mediterranean gas field. Lebanese authorities describethe move as a “direct threat to stability,” urging its neighbor to stopconstruction, with Lebanese General Joseph Aoun warning that the country’sarmy would use every possible means to confront potential “Israeliaggression,” no matter what that cost may be.
Earlier the same month, a Hezbollah official threatened to open a new frontagainst Israel if Tel Aviv continues to target Syria and the Gaza Strip.The statement came shortly after a clash between Israel and Iran, whichresulted in the alleged downing of an Iranian drone and an Israeli aircraft.