Operation Juniper Cobra 2018: IDF and U.S. Army joint exercise


Juniper Cobra is the largest joint US-Israeli air defense military exercise in the country. It takes place every two years since 2001. The 2018 edition is involving about 4,500 IDF troops and American military personnel.


Operation Juniper Cobra 2018 IDF and US Army joint exercise

General Curtis M. Scaparrotti, SACEUR/Commander of the U.S. EUCOM, visited Hatzor AFB as part of the "Juniper Cobra" 2018 exercise, alongside IDF Deputy Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Aviv Cochavi, and IAF Commander Amikam Norkin (Picture source: Stars and Stripes)


This exercise includes the most probable risk faced by the country via computer simulations of ballistic missile and rocket attacks. The “Iron Dome”, Patriot and Arrow 2 and 3 systems’ efficiency is tested. Re-supply movements are also part of the exercise this year, according to officials.

Lt. General Richard M. Clark, USAF 3rd Air Force commander, stated: “Our country has committed, our senior leaders have committed, that when requested by the Israeli government, we will be ready to execute and to be here,” General Clark asserted, before saying that, depending on the scenario, U.S. forces could be ready to mobilize from European bases to deploy in Israel within 72 hours. Gen. Clark said every exercise “practices all the relevant threats.”

“We will practice and train shoulder to shoulder like we would fight,” IDF Brig. Gen. Zvika Haimovitch, head of the IDF’s Aerial Defense Division said, adding that both armies are preparing and practicing for “multi-directional threats.

Among the heaviest threats are increasingly accurate projectiles: Hezbollah is believed to have about 150,000 rockets and missiles.

Independently from Juniper Cobra, the IDF is also conducting a classic general staff exercise named “Solid Stand” throughout the country. Home Front Command forces will train alongside national Emergency Management Authority personnel, local authorities, Israeli security and rescue forces, the education system and both public and private organisations”.