As part of the June Cobra 2020 drill, thousands of US Army troops arrive in Israel • Forces will practice missile threat scenarios in various sectors
In light of the outbreak of the Corona virus in the world and in Israel, and despite the closure of the borders of various countries, the Juniper Cobra 2020 exercise began Tuesday with thousands of US soldiers from the US Army Command.
This is what it looked like in the past: Juniper Cobra 2018
Photo: IDF Spokesman
Preparation for the exercise began several months ago, with the arrival of American forces in Israel in recent weeks. In total, more than 2,500 European Command soldiers will take part in the exercise, of which over 600 have practiced in Israel, along with about 1,000 IDF soldiers from the Israel Air Force Defense Force, logistical units, medical forces as well as other IDF units. It should be noted that the soldiers participating in the exercise come to Israel from Germany and the United States, and not from countries that are currently considered problematic as far as the Corona virus is concerned.
This is the tenth exercise in the tradition that began twenty years ago, in 2001. The objectives of the exercise, say the IDF, are to strengthen cooperation, coordination and mutual learning between the two armies, as well as to improve the capability to defend against missile threats and joint air defense.
Preparations for the current exercise:
Photo: IDF Spokesman
The exercise simulates a scenario in which US forces will arrive in Israel and operate alongside the IAF air defense in a missile and rocket defense mission. The forces will practice possible scenarios of missile threats in the various sectors, using simulations of Israeli weapons systems: "Arrow 2" and "Arrow 3" system, "Kela David" system, an advanced version of the "Iron Dome" system and a ballistic image management center, in collaboration with the Home Front Command.
The IDF emphasizes that the exercise was planned in advance as part of the training program for 2020, regardless of a concrete assessment. European command soldiers will participate in the exercise in several different locations, in Israel, Europe and the United States.