Israel, Greece, Cyprus hold naval drill amid deepening ties

Exercises are sign of increased cooperation among countries that increasingly view Turkey as a rival in the Mediterranean.

The Israeli military says it has conducted a joint naval exercise with Greece and Cyprus, in the latest sign of increased cooperation among three countries that increasingly view Turkey as a rival in the Mediterranean Sea. It said the Noble Dina exercise, which was led by Israel and also included France, covered “anti-submarine procedures, search and rescue scenarios, and a scenario simulating battle between ships”. The exercise was concluded on Thursday. “Over the past week, the navy led a large-scale exercise in which it implemented capabilities in underwater warfare, search and rescue, convoy escort and surface combat,” Rear Admiral Eyal Harel, the head of Israeli naval operations, said on Friday.