Article Posted on : - Feb 23, 2016

WASHINGTON (BNS): The militaries of the US and Israel are conducting a week-long ballistic missile defence drill since February 21.

The biennial missile drill, titled "Juniper Cobra", "is intended to improve cohesion and interoperability between the two nations in the event of a ballistic missile attack against Israel," the Pentagon said.

"[The] exercise is our nation's premier exercise in the region and with Israel," a Pentagon spokesperson said, adding that "this is the 8th in a series of biennial exercises between the two militaries dating back to 2001."

More than 1,700 US service members, civilian employees and contractors are taking part in the drill being conducted in Israel between the Israel Defense Forces and the United States European Command.

The training includes a "computer-simulated scenario about challenges Israel could face."