The Israeli military announced Friday that it had conducted a joint naval exercise with Greece and Cyprus, in the latest sign of increased cooperation among three countries that increasingly view Turkey as a rival in the Mediterranean Sea.
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It said the "Noble Dina" exercise, which was led by Israel and also included France, covered "anti-submarine procedures, search and rescue scenarios, and a scenario simulating battle between ships."
The exercise was concluded on Thursday.
"Over the past week, the navy led a large-scale exercise in which it implemented capabilities in underwater warfare, search and rescue, convoy escort, and surface combat," Rear Admiral Eyal Harel, the head of Israeli naval operations, said.
"These exercises are of paramount importance in strengthening the navy's connection with foreign fleets who share common interests," he added.
Israel, Greece, and Cyprus have taken a number of steps in recent months to cement ties, including advancing plans to build a 2,000-megawatt undersea electricity cable and a 1,900-kilometer (1,300-mile) undersea gas pipeline. The three countries' defense ministers met in November and agreed to increase military cooperation.
Greece and Cyprus are embroiled in a dispute with Turkey, which has sent gas prospecting vessels into waters claimed by Greece and drilling ships into an area where Cyprus claims exclusive rights. Although tensions have since eased, the tension brought North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies Greece and Turkey close to open conflict last year.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, meanwhile, has expressed interest in sharing a maritime border with Israel at the Cypriots' expense.
The Turkish leader portrays himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause and has provided political support to Hamas, the Islamic terrorist group that seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. A number of Hamas leaders are based in Turkey, and Erdogan met with the group's top leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in December 2019.
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