U.S.-Israel Juniper Oak 2023 Exercise

IRIA Staff - January 26, 2023

United States Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Israel Defense Forces conducted a bilateral live-fire Juniper Oak Exercise on the land and the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The exercises included U.S. special operations and infantry forces, combat search and rescue teams, strike coordination and reconnaissance, and Space Force assets.

Juniper Oak is the largest exercise ever conducted between the United States and Israel in history, and involves thousands of troops and assets in air, on land, at sea, in cyberspace, and in space. It also integrated U.S. and Israeli fifth-generation fighter assets, the United States Carrier Strike Group, and command-and-control elements.

More than 140 aircraft including B-52 strategic bombers, F-35, F-15, F-16, FA-18 fighter jets, AC-130 gunship aircraft, and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, as well as High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, and Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS), took part in Juniper Oak 2023 Exercise.

In addition, the United States sent 12 naval vessels including an aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS George H.W. Bush for the large-scale joint exercise in the Middle East.

Juniper Oak 23.2 has just begun... pic.twitter.com/DN8tVsGT3D
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 24, 2023

During the exercise, more than 180,000 pounds of munitions was fired, including laser-guided bombs and rockets from four High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems.

A senior U.S. defense official said that about 6,400 United States military personnel and more than 1,100 members of the Israel Defense Forces are also taking part in the Juniper Oak Exercise.

According to the U.S. CENTCOM press release, the exercise strengthens collective readiness and improves the interoperability of the U.S. and Israeli forces, and contributes to regional stability. “Exercises like Juniper Oak show that interoperability and integration represent the improved security in the region,” the press release read.

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said during a January 24 briefing that “It’s the largest and most significant exercise we have engaged in together and is intended to demonstrate that the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad and enduring.”

U.S. and Israeli forces conducting live-fire drills during the Juniper Oak 2023 exercise. (Image Credit: Twitter/@CENTCOM)

Commander of CENTCOM General Michael Kurilla said, “Consistent with CENTCOM’s strategic approach of People, Partners, and Innovation, we are committed to strengthening military-to-military relations throughout the region.

U.S. Army General Michael "Erik" Kurilla observed the U.S. forces and Israeli troops iring HIMARS and MLRS rockets, conducting maritime operations, executing highly complex flight operations, coordinating close air support, operating together on land, at sea and in the air.

Kurilla highlighted that the Combined Joint All-Domain exercise “improves our interoperability on land, in the air, at sea, in space, and in cyberspace with our partners, enhances our ability to respond to contingencies, and underscores our commitment to the Middle East.”

The U.S. Army general added that "Our shared achievement is a testament to the leadership of the Israel Defense Forces and the enduring commitment of the Department of Defense's most senior leaders to increase military cooperation. Only through a firm commitment to this partnership are we able to plan and organize such an incredibly complex high-end operation across such a large geographic area integrating all aspects of warfighting, some of which are seen and some of which are not".

More than 140 aircraft including B-52 strategic bombers, F-35, F-15, F-16, FA-18 fighter jets, AC-130 gunship aircraft, and AH-64 Apache helicopters took part in Juniper Oak 2023 exercise. (Image Credit: Twitter/@CENTCOM)

The U.S. CENTCOM commander said that “These kinds of exercises – which CENTCOM routinely conducts with our partners – develop interoperability between military forces, increase military capabilities, and are important to the security and stability of the region." Central Command chief Kurilla added that "The lessons learned during these exercises are exportable to our partners across the region".

During the Juniper Oak Exercise, the U.S. and Israeli personnel exercised both countries’ command and control capabilities, air operations in maritime surface warfare, and combat search and rescue abilities.

Juniper Oak Exercise integrated several military assets including:

- Strategic bombers
- Fighter aircraft
- Rescue aircraft
- Refueling aircraft
- Naval forces
- Ground long-range precision fires
- Air long-range precision fires - Rotary wing aircraft
- Space Force assets
- Special Operations Forces
- Infantry forces

In addition, the U.S. and Israeli forces also integrated Command and Control, Air Operations in Maritime, Surface Warfare, and Combat Search and Rescue missions.

U.S. and Israeli attack helicopters taking part in Juniper Oak 2023 exercise. (Image Credit: Twitter/@CENTCOM)

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. and Israeli partners also worked together to enhance interoperability on the electronic attack suppression of enemy air defenses, strike coordination and reconnaissance, and air interdiction.

U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Ryder highlighted that the bilateral exercise “is not focused on defeating one adversary or threat, but rather the interoperability of U.S. and Israeli forces”.

Brig. Gen. Ryder said that “The United States maintains many relationships in the Middle East region with many countries. Israel is one of our closest partners in the region."

Ryder added that the Juniper Oak exercise "gives us the opportunity to work together to increase interoperability, to be able to respond to a variety of contingencies and threats... that should we need to operate together, we can do so seamlessly."

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze sails in front of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush during exercise Juniper Oak 2023-2, on January 24, 2023. (Image Credit: U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Cryton Vandiesal)

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