The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet kicked off its annual joint exercise with the Israeli Navy, called “Intrinsic Defender,” in Haifa on Sunday.
More than 50 U.S. service members will participate in this year’s exercise, which will involve explosive ordnance disposal, mine countermeasures, maritime and global health management, underwater construction, maritime surveillance and vessel boarding procedures, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
“Israel is one of our most capable maritime partners and these exercises further underscore historic military cooperation achieved in recent years,” said U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces. “Training and operating together strengthens regional maritime security and stability.”
