Some 2,000 IDF soldiers from the Israeli Air Force and 2,500 U.S. military personnel are training together in Israel in order to develop new strategies with regards to how to best defend the country. The collaborative drill is being called Juniper Cobra.

The joint drill, which is expected to extend well into this week, is considered to be the zenith of cooperation between the two countries regarding missile defense that has continued to grow against Israel.

Brigadier General Tzvika Haimowitz, the chief officer in charge of air defense in the Air Force said: “The exercises that we are training on is meaningful and challenging. It supposes that an incredible amount of missiles will be aimed at the Israeli populace. We’ve already seen this during previous conflicts,” said Haimowitz. “It is their preferred weapon,” he added.

Haimowitz continued: “We will be training on a scenario that involves all fonts. This drill is a joint collabotation and thereby allows us gain helpful insights as well as cover more ground and deal with all of the fronts simultaneously.”

At the culmination of the exercise, which incorporates the Arrow, Patriot, Iron Dome and Magic Wand air defense systems that will be scattered in different locations around the country.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)