US scraps military drill after Turkey withdrawal

press tv
Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:56:20 GMT

A joint military maneuver by the US, NATO, Italy, Israel and Turkey has
been canceled after Ankara withdraws from the exercise over Tel Aviv’s
participation in the drill.

Turkey’s move, which was taken over Israel’s decision to send planes to
the exercise which possibly took part in the Gaza war last December,
caused "disappointment" in Washington, The Jerusalem Post reported on
Sunday.

The exercise, therefore, was canceled.

"The exercise was postponed due to a Turkish decision to change the
composition of the participants and not allow the Israel Air Force to
participate, a decision we were informed of only several days ago," a
statement by the Israeli Air Force said.

Israeli officials claim that both the US and NATO warned that they
would withdraw from the exercise if Israel did not participate in it.

Turkey informed Israel of the cancellation of the Anatolian Eagle
exercise last week.