US, Israel hold joint aerial drill

The air forces of Israel and the US have launched a two-week joint drill, the Israeli military said.

An undisclosed number of F-15 and F-16 fighter jets from both sides are taking part in the event, code-named "Juniper Stallion 13", Xinhua reported.

The drill is being held at the Israel Air Force's Uvda base in the southern Negev Desert.

During the drill, pilots will practice air-to-air combat manoeuvres, mid-air refuelling, bombing runs and other missions.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the drill was part of regular scheduled training between the two nations, even though it comes at a time of heightened tension along Israel's frontiers with Syria, Lebanon and Egypt.

"The combined exercise is designed to improve the inter-operability and cooperation between the Israeli and US air forces, and has been planned for more than a year," an IDF spokesman told Xinhua.