Israel, US begin joint drill on ballistic missile defence

Israel and the US started a joint exercise on Sunday focusing on defence against the threat of ballistic missiles, the Israeli army said.

It is the eighth time the biennial exercise, known as Juniper Cobra 16, has been held since its initiation in 2001, an Israeli army spokesperson said.

According to the statement reported by Xinhua, 1,700 Israeli soldiers and civil contractors are taking part in the drill, which is due to last until Thursday.

“This exercise is part of a planned training schedule that seeks to enhance compatibility between the militaries in the context of exercising defensive capabilities,” the statement said.

Commander of the Israeli Aerial Defence Division Brigadier General Zvika Haimovich said that the drill is a “significant milestone” in Israeli-US defence cooperation and that it would help to achieve stability in the region.