The US and Israel on Thursday announced the conclusion of their largest-ever joint military exercises, known as Juniper Oak 23.
The drills were launched Monday and involved over 140 aircraft and nearly 8,000 troops from both militaries. The massive show of force was clearly a provocation toward Iran despite claims from US officials that it wasn’t aimed at any one country. 6,400 US troops, 1,500 Israeli soldiers and over 140 aircraft, 12 naval vessels, and artillery systems from both nations were involved in Juniper Oak 2023.
WATCH: The Juniper Oak 23.2 final video pic.twitter.com/3QFXiPl9sX
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 27, 2023
The exercise was widely seen as a message to Iran, however, American officials said the live-fire drills did not include mockups of Iranian targets or of any other adversary. Israel’s Channel 12 news reported, without citing a source, that part of the drill included American bombers targeting a simulated Iranian nuclear facility.
Juniper Oak 23.2, the largest ever US-Israel combined exercise, continues.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 26, 2023
Look 👀for the culminating Juniper Oak video tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/xyme9p5aPe
More here: https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-us-wrap-up-largest-ever-joint-drill-in-message-to-iran/