Israeli Soldiers Join Moroccan-American Military Exercise for First Time

"A delegation of 12 soldiers and commanders from the Golani Reconnaissance Battalion left Israel on Sunday for the African Lion 2023 exercise in Morocco. This is the first time the Israeli army has taken an active part in these international maneuvers on Moroccan soil," says an Israeli statement released on Monday.

Nearly 8,000 soldiers from 18 countries are participating in this 19th edition of these military maneuvers co-organized by Morocco and the United States. "Over the next two weeks, our soldiers will focus on training in different combat situations that combine urban guerrilla and underground warfare, and will culminate in a joint exercise for all participating armies," the statement said.

Last year, Israeli soldiers had participated in African Lion as observers. This year, they will be on the ground, notably in the seven regions of Morocco where, according to the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), various exercises in operational planning, combating weapons of mass destruction, land, maritime, air and special forces tactics, etc. will take place.

Morocco and Israel have strengthened their military cooperation and in several areas since the normalization of their relations in December 2020, within the framework of the Abraham Accords, under the aegis of the United States.