The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that it will conduct joint military exercises with the Israel Defense Forces in the eastern Mediterranean beginning Monday in response to rising tensions with Iran and China.
«This is a signal that we continue to stand behind Israel at a time when there is a lot of turbulence and instability in the region,» a senior defense official has explained to NBC News, adding that these exercises, which will last until Friday, also send a clear message to Tehran and Beijing.
Some 6,400 U.S. troops have joined 1,100 Israeli military personnel to operate 142 aerial devices in total, including fighters, bombers and drones, along with six U.S. ships, an aircraft carrier group and six Israeli ships.
CENTCOM commander, General Michael Erik Kurilla, explained in a statement that «Juniper Oak is a combined joint exercise» that improves «interoperability on land, air, sea, space and cyberspace», as well as the ability to «respond to contingencies».
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
