Week-long Juniper Falcon joint U.S.-Israeli drill comes to an end

Exercises like these ‘provide the glue’ in the bond between the two countries.

By ANNA AHRONHEIM
Updated: FEBRUARY 15, 2019 11:45
Juniper Falcon 2019 (Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
US and Israeli troops have finished the week-long Juniper Falcon drill, which tested the level of coordination between the two countries in the event of a ballistic missile threat against Israel.
As part of Juniper Falcon 2019, some 300 Americans from the United States European Command (USEUCOM) flew into Israel last week and joined some 400 IDF troops from various units, including the Air Defense Array, the Operations Directorate, the navy, logistical units and medical forces.
Juniper Falcon focused on scenarios, which would see the deployment of US forces in Israel under fire during conflict and saw troops train in several theaters, including Hatzor Air Force Base and the IDF headquarters and other locations across the country.
As part of the preparation for the exercise, which began 18 months ago, the IDF carried out infrastructural and logistical preparation ahead of the US Forces’ arrival.
According to military officials who spoke to The Jerusalem Post on Thursday, the purpose of the exercise is not only to improve the readiness of both countries to defend against ballistic missile threats, but to strengthen the robust and agile partnership and cooperation between the militaries of the two countries.
Brig.-Gen. Erez Maisel, the head of the Israel Defense Forces’ Foreign Relations Division, said that the drill focused on the “three Cs: common language, confidence and capabilities” of troops to enable the maximum protection of Israel.
Washington and Jerusalem have signed an agreement that would see the US come to assist Israel with missile defense in times of war and last year, 3,000 American troops took part in Juniper Cobra, which simulated a massive missile attack on the Israeli home front.
These sorts of drills “provide the glue” that strengthens “the bond between the United States and Israel,” said Lt.-Gen. Jeffrey L. Harrigian, deputy commander, US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa.
Harrigain, who met with reporters at an IDF base in central Israel shortly after he arrived from Ramstein Air Base in Germany to oversee the end of the drill, said that the IDF “is a very disciplined force” and that the trust and confidence between the troops of the allied nations has “facilitated the ability for American troops to easily come here during times of emergency.”
“If and when we go to war it will be much easier for troops to be deployed here,” another Israeli officer told the Post during a visit to the drill’s communication center.
While the IDF stated that the drill, which has been occurring every two years since 2001, is part of the annual training schedule intended to maintain the readiness of troops, it comes amid a war of words between Israel and Iran as well as Hezbollah, Tehran’s proxy in Lebanon.
On Wednesday, an Israeli intelligence assessment found that the threat posed by Iran – including its nuclear and ballistic missile program – is the number one priority for the IDF.
Iran, which possesses over 1,000 short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, is suspected of continuing to smuggle weapons to countries and non-state actors, such as Hezbollah – which is assessed to have an arsenal of between 100,000 and 150,000 missiles on Israel’s northern border – and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.