Israeli, American, Turkish air maneuvers

In statement, the Israeli army has announced that Israel, the US and Turkey will start on January 1st, 2003 joint air and sea maneuvers off the Israeli coasts.

The statement explained that these exercises will concentrate on securing exercises in the sea and coordination of the military leaderships in the three countries in this regard. The statement said that helicopters, reconnaissance planes and warships from the three countries will take part in these maneuvers.

The USA and Israel will in January hold bilateral joint exercises in the same area in precaution of any likely American attack against Iraq and the Iraqi reaction against Israel.

This maneuver which American warships and patriot missiles batteries will take part, was agreed upon during the visit held last week to Israel by the US defense department official Douglas Faith.

In the same context, the Israeli radio said the Israeli forces started on Wednesday evening training to monitor likely points for the fall of Iraqi missiles on Israel.