US and Israeli occupation troops started on Sunday a vast missile exercise called Austere Challenge 12, in what is considered as their largest-ever joint military operation.

US and Israeli occupation troops started on Sunday a vast missile exercise called Austere Challenge 12, in what is considered as their largest-ever joint military operation.

The exercise involves 3,500 personnel from the US European Command (US EUCOM) and 1,000 Israeli troops and is expected to last three weeks.

"Austere Challenge 12 is the largest aerial defense exercise to take place between the two militaries," an Israeli occupation military statement said.

"These exercises are part of a planned training schedule that seeks to increase cooperation interoperability between the militaries. Planning for the exercise began over two years ago and is not a response to specific events in the region," the statement said.

Of the 3,500 US personnel involved, around a thousand will be stationed in the Zionist entity, while the rest will operate in Europe and the Mediterranean, senior US air force officer Lieutenant General Craig Franklin told reporters last week.

Troops will train together on the Zionist entity's Iron Dome missile system, the latest version of the US Patriot and the Arrow anti-ballistic missile system, jointly developed by the two allies.
Command and control functions will be provided by US Navy Aegis cruiser.