The news of the military exercise was announced amid protests by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşo .lu.
Cyprus and Israel will hold their largest joint military exercise inside Cypriot territory on Sunday, provoking a reaction from Turkey, according to nationalpost.com.cy.
The exercise will take place in the presence of Israeli Defense Minister Beni Ganj, who will visit the island.
The Cyprus Ministry of Defense confirmed that the exercise is scheduled for the next few days, but declined to give further details.
The Israeli naval units will conduct an exercise in Cyprus, in which “many warplanes” will also participate.
According to the news website Philenews, the exercise is the largest joint military exercise with Israel, involving a record number of military units.
Joint exercises with Israeli special forces and the air force have taken place in the past. However, these exercises were done separately and not to the extent that they will be done now.
The news of the military exercise came amid protests by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşo .lu, who visited his Israeli counterpart, Jair Lapid.
Tsavousoglu asked Israeli officials what the purpose of the joint exercise was.
Israeli officials said they had provided clarification to Ankara, saying the exercise was for internal purposes and nothing more.
Israel is currently conducting its largest military exercise, the Chariots of Fire, mobilizing thousands of soldiers and reservists.
According to the Times of Israel, the exercise includes a simulation of an attack on Iranian nuclear targets, while the weekend exercise will be completed in Cyprus.
Joint military exercises with Israel, one of the most modern and well-equipped armed forces in the world, are considered valuable for Cyprus to intensify its combat readiness.
