The Israeli military said Thursday that around 200 US and Israeli officers had staged a computer-based battle simulation designed to improve coordination between the two countries' armed forces.
The four-day exercise, codenamed ''Juniper Falcon'' was part of a standing agreement between the two strategic allies to hold regular joint training to boost ''interoperability, understanding and cooperation'' a military statement released on Thursday said.
The statement stressed that the exercise, which ended on Wednesday, had been planned a year in advance and was not related to actual events.
Defense officials said that in addition the Israeli military's southern command held a separate simulation based on a scenario of an escalated conflict in Gaza.
They said that the drill, codenamed ''Coiled Spring'' should not be seen as a precursor to a real offensive into the Gaza Strip.