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U.S., Israel Carry Out Largest Joint Military Exercise as Violence Flares on Gaza Border
(AP-Washington Post) The U.S. and Israel simulated rocket attacks during their largest-ever joint military drill Wednesday, called Austere Challenge 2012, just as real ones fired from Gaza exploded in southern Israel. About 1,000 U.S. troops are in Israel alongside a similar number of Israeli troops. An additional 2,500 U.S. troops based in Europe and the Mediterranean are participating in the three-week exercise, practicing their ability to help thwart a variety of threats that face Israel. In Wednesday's exercise simulating incoming rockets, Israeli commanders and their American counterparts identified an incoming rocket or enemy aircraft, then American troops pushed the button to activate the anti-missile launcher. Not far away, Israeli soldiers were operating similar batteries for real, knocking down eight rockets from Gaza.