Joint US-Israeli military exercise kicks off

The Israel Defense Forces announces the beginning of a joint ballistic missile exercise with United States European Command (US EUCOM), dubbed Juniper Cobra 16.

“During the course of the exercise, over 1,700 US Service members, civilians and contractors will participate together with the IDF in addressing computer simulated challenges that Israel could face. The IDF sees Juniper Cobra as an opportunity to increase the long-standing cooperation between the military forces,” the IDF says in a statement. “During the exercise, increased military activity may be noted.”

US Major General Mark Loeben, director of Exercises and Assessments at Headquarters, United States European Command, says the drill is “our nation’s premier exercise in the region, and EUCOM’s highest priority exercise for 2016.”