Israel, U.S. to hold major missile defense exercise
Drill, called 'Austere Challenge12,' follows 10-day Iranian naval exercise near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
By The Associated Press and DPAThe Israeli military says it will soon hold a major missile defense exercise with U.S. -forces. It follows a 10-day Iranian naval exercise near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Israel's military says the drill with the U.S. was planned long ago and is not tied to recent events.
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Arrow type missile being launched in an IDF test site, 2006. |
| Photo by: IDF |
The drill is called "Austere Challenge 12" and is designed to improve defense systems. No date for the drill was given by the military on Thursday. Israel has deployed the "Arrow" system, jointly developed and funded with the U.S., designed to intercept Iranian missiles.
The West is adopting new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, charging that Iran is making weapons. Iran insists its program is peaceful. Israel considers Iran a strategic threat because of its nuclear and missile programs.
On Wednesday, Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said that Iran planned to hold more military exercises after a 10-day drill in the Persian Gulf raised tensions with the United States.
"The maneuver of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards would be held soon," the ISNA news agency quoted Vahidi as saying after the weekly cabinet meeting. He gave no further details.
The Iranian navy carried out drills near the Strait of Hormuz last week after it threatened to block the strait, where some 35 per cent of the world's seaborne oil passes, if the West imposed new sanctions over its disputed nuclear program.
The United States has dismissed a warning by Iran not to return a US aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf. The aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis left the Gulf on December 27 and a Pentagon spokesman said it would return.
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They can exercise together militarily, maintaining status quo. But they are powerless to cooperate ensuring that peace prevails in the region.
The USA and Israel don't intervene, can't intervene and must not intervene in developments in the Arab and Muslim worlds, that have changed the secular tyrannies for the upcoming new Pan-Arabism, which is Islamism. So in Morocco, Tunis, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Bahrein, Kuweit, Palestine, etc. Your post amounts to damned if they don't intervene and damned if they do (which they can't). Think again clearly, Marlem.
Missiles are sophisticated slings and arrows, it's our reptilian mindset that needs some evolving. Salaam/Shalom
since they are heavily in breach regarding human rights, and violation of international law.
Send female US troops to sit in the front of the bus in Haredim 'hoods, and walk on the same side of the street as the men--while singing! America should really help Israel.
Nobody would profit from a war between Israel and Iran. In the future, Iran will be no threat to Israel! All this has been told long before by Jahwe through Jesaja. In the future, Israel will have no more enemies! Why do the Jews not trust in the word of its God Jahwe? Israel would be safe....
Stephan, Take the needle out of your arm stop drinking the Kool-aid