(Archives)
Photo: AFP
Israel, US stage 4-day military training exercise
Drill involving participation of some 200 American, Israeli counterparts aimed at boosting 'interoperability, understanding and cooperation' between armies. IDF says exercise unrelated to actual events
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.
