Israel joins US for defence drill

Tel Aviv, 22 Oct-(ANA)-Israel and the US are due to begin a two-week military defence exercise, thought to be the largest of its kind in Israel's history.

The exercise will focus on providing a joint defence against a simulated co-ordinated missile attack on Israel.

Up to 2,000 joint military personnel are believed to be taking part, along with at least 15 American ships.

The Israeli army said the exercise was not a "response to any world events" but had been planned for a while.

It is thought that a highly sophisticated new American radar, based in the Israeli desert, will be central to the exercise.

Israel, Turkey and the US countries took part in a joint exercise in the Mediterranean Sea, off Haifa last year. (ANA)

FA/ANA/22 October 2009---