Diplomacy

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U.S. and Israel Wrap Up Joint Military Exercises as Israel Prepares for Dempsey Arrival

by TheTower.org Staff |

The Israeli Defense Forces and U.S. European Command last week concluded two weeks of military exercises as part of regularly scheduled training exercises between the allies. Juniper Stallion 13 and Noble Melinda 13 were concurrent air force and navy exercises. The IDF ran down the purpose of the exercises:

Juniper Stallion 13 was a combined, bilateral F-15/F-16 air-to-air exercise designed to improve the interoperability and cooperation between the U.S. and Israeli air forces. The exercise took place at Nevatim Air Base in southern Israel. Juniper Stallion is held annually, and JS13 was in planning for more than a year.

Noble Melinda 13 was an annual bilateral maritime exercise focusing on explosive ordnance disposal and other underwater operations. The exercise was designed to increase interoperability by developing the individual and collective maritime proficiencies of the U.S. and Israel while promoting friendship and cooperation. This was the 11th year that Noble Melinda occurred, taking place as part of regularly scheduled training between the two nations.

The exercises came roughly a month after EUCOM Commander General Philip M. Breedlove met with IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz to enhance military-to-military cooperation between Washington and Jerusalem. The next few days will see the arrival of General Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for meetings aimed at bolstering cooperating further:

U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin E. Dempsey, was expected to arrive in Israel on Sunday for discussions focusing on Syria and Iran, the Yediot Aharonot daily reported. General Dempsey and his Israeli counterpart Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz will discuss bolstering military cooperation between the two countries with regard to the ongoing civil war in Syria, where Israeli aircraft had allegedly struck weapon storage facilities a number of times since the beginning of the year.

Recent months have seen a a sharp increase in exchanges designed to deepen U.S.-Israeli defense ties. Multiple top-level delegations traveling between the two countries. Top defense officials from both countries insist that those ties have never been stronger.

[Photo: TheWindsorStar / YouTube]

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