The United States and Israel began this week more than two weeks of tests to simulate missile attacks on the only country in the Middle East to possess nuclear weapons.

Israeli Deputy Defence Minister Matan Vilnai (R) is briefed by an Israeli army officer during a tour of fortifications near the Israeli-Lebanese border, October 20, 2009. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

According to the Yediot Aharonot newspaper on Wednesday, the Juniper Cobra drills will simulate the firing of long-range missiles against Israel and will include a live missile interception.
The 16-day defense drill involves 2,000 troops from the U.S. European Command and the Israeli army. It will put the Israeli Arrow missile defense system and three U.S. systems through their paces.

Testing the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, the ship-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System and Patriot anti-aircraft systems has required Washington to dispatch 17 warships to the region.

Monitoring from the Negev desert, the U.S.-made Forward Based X-band Tactical radar – capable of detecting long-range missiles – will track the Arrow missile system while transmitting data to a U.S. joint tactical ground station.