A large-scale military exercise called "AGAPINOR 2022" is underway with the participation of water, air and land forces of the National Guard and the Israel Defense Forces. The exercise, which began last Sunday and will end on June 2, is part of the annual Cyprus-Israel defense cooperation program.
The purpose of the exercise is to co-train the staffs and forces of the two countries, to increase their interoperability and readiness and to upgrade the already existing long-term military cooperation. The exercise, which is based on a hypothetical scenario, is a further development of this cooperation, contributing to peace and regional stability. The exercise tested the offensive action scenario to eliminate airborne bridges created by IED and IDF Commando Command's commando sections. The offensive action was executed by the XX Armoured Brigade formed into Tactical Battalion Groups with mixed crews, supported by Israeli Air Force Apache helicopters and Mi-35 helicopters of the General Staff Air Command.
The exercise was attended by the Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Demokritos Zervakis, Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Konstantinos Chrysilios, Deputy Chief of the Israel Defense Forces Major General Herzi Halevi and Chief of Ground Forces Major General Tamir Yadaie, in the presence of the IDF hierarchy and senior IDF officers.
In the evening of the same day, the Chief of the National Guard received his Israeli counterpart, Lieutenant General Avi Kohavi, who visited Cyprus to observe scenarios of the exercise. The following day, the two Chiefs had a private meeting during which they discussed the progress of the exercise and expressed their satisfaction with its results so far. They also discussed the individual aspects of military cooperation between the two countries.
Today, 31 May 2022, the two Chiefs together with the Minister of Defence of the State of Israel, Mr. Benny Gantz, visited the exercising units.
(SX)
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