Israel and the United States are conducting joint military exercise in Israel this month, officials at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv have confirmed.
The Israeli daily Al Hamishmar reported this week that the exercises began on Sunday in the Negev desert and that various American forces are participating.
The report said that during the past few months, U.S. Army officials came to Israel to prepare for the exercises, which are expected to last several days.
U.S. Embassy spokesman Richard Scorza confirmed the report, and said the exercise is part of regular training activities that have taken place in the past.
He added that the exercises were planned far in advance and said it was purely coincidental that they were taking place at the same time that U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher was visiting the region.
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