The Israeli army will join forces with soldiers from 18 countries, totaling approximately 8,000 participants, to take part in military games hosted in Morocco.
The Israeli army said that Israeli soldiers will participate in military exercises in Morocco for the first time when the most significant war games event in Africa kicks off Tuesday.
“This is the first time that the IDF is taking an active part in the ‘African Lion’ international exercise,” said a statement from the Israeli army late Monday.
“A delegation of 12 soldiers and commanders from the Golani Reconnaissance Battalion”—an elite infantry unit—has been sent to participate alongside some 8,000 soldiers from 18 countries.
The event is now in its 19th edition and is organized by Morocco and the United States.
“During the next two weeks, the soldiers will focus on training in various combat challenges that combine urban warfare and underground warfare, in which they will conclude in a common exercise for all participating armies,” read the Israeli statement.
However, Israel participated in the event last year only as an international military observer, without soldiers taking part on the ground.
According to the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces (FAR), the war games include exercises in operational planning and fighting weapons of mass destruction, tactical land, sea, air, and special forces training, and airborne operations.
Morocco and Israel have been working to boost military, security, trade, and tourism cooperation since they normalized ties in December 2020.
Miroslava Salazar with AFP
