Israeli Army Calls Up Reserves During International Drill

Israel and German fighter jets fly over the Knesset, Israel's parliament, during a flyby in a display of cooperation between the two countries and their armies, in Jerusalem on October 17, 2021. (Photo by Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP)
Israel and German fighter jets fly over the Knesset, Israel's parliament, during a flyby in a display of cooperation between the two countries and their armies, in Jerusalem on October 17, 2021. (Photo by Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP)
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Israeli Army Calls Up Reserves During International Drill

Israel and German fighter jets fly over the Knesset, Israel's parliament, during a flyby in a display of cooperation between the two countries and their armies, in Jerusalem on October 17, 2021. (Photo by Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP)
Israel and German fighter jets fly over the Knesset, Israel's parliament, during a flyby in a display of cooperation between the two countries and their armies, in Jerusalem on October 17, 2021. (Photo by Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP)

The Israeli Air Force’s (IAF) international “Blue Flag” training exercise kicked off in southern Israel on Sunday.

The 13-day drill, in which the air forces of Germany, Italy, Britain, France, India, Greece and the United States are taking part, is held the Negev Desert and will end on October 28.

The Israeli army surprised its soldiers on Monday with an unprecedented military maneuver, during which reservists were called up to a number of units in the army Ground Arm.

According to the army spokesman, the exercise included making phone calls and sending text messages to reservists. Some soldiers were asked to inform their units, according to the instructions provided.

The drill aimed at checking and improving the readiness of reservists, the spokesman noted, adding that it will continue until Tuesday evening as part of the 2021 training program.

“During the exercise, the participants will simulate in-air battles and ground-to-air battles and will practice addressing the threat of advanced surface-to-air missiles and combat behind enemy lines,” he explained.

Launched in 2013, the Blue Flag is held every two years to bolster cooperation between the participant countries.

This years’ drills will focus on the integration of fourth and fifth-generation aircraft, including the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, in complex operational scenarios.

For the first time, the international teams conducted a joint honorary flyover through Israel’s skies.

IAF Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin will lead the flyover in a Baz F-15 alongside an Israeli “Adir” F-35I.

Lt.-Gen. Ingo Gerhartz, Commander of the German Air Force, will fly alongside in the “Eagle Star” Eurofighter, which has been specially painted in the colors of the German and Israeli flags.

“We are living in a very complicated region, and the threats to the State of Israel from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran are only increasing,” said Norkin.

“Holding an international exercise in this reality, while continuing our public and covert operational activities on all fronts, is of utmost strategic importance and has an extensive impact over the Israeli army and state,” he added.



Erdogan, Trump Discuss Ukraine, Syria, Defense Issues, Türkiye Says

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a joint press conference after a meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (unseen) in Ankara, Türkiye, 12 March 2025. (EPA)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a joint press conference after a meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (unseen) in Ankara, Türkiye, 12 March 2025. (EPA)
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Erdogan, Trump Discuss Ukraine, Syria, Defense Issues, Türkiye Says

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a joint press conference after a meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (unseen) in Ankara, Türkiye, 12 March 2025. (EPA)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a joint press conference after a meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (unseen) in Ankara, Türkiye, 12 March 2025. (EPA)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump and discussed efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine and to restore stability in Syria, Erdogan's office said on Sunday.

He told Trump that Türkiye supports his "decisive and direct initiatives" to end the war between Russia and Ukraine and that Türkiye will continue to strive for a "just and lasting peace", the statement said.

Erdogan also spoke of "the importance of jointly contributing to the lifting of sanctions on Syria to restore stability, make the new administration functional and support normalization," the statement said, adding that this would enable Syrians to return to their homeland.

Türkiye also expects steps from the United States regarding the fight against terrorism, taking into account Türkiye’s interests, it said.

In the battle against ISIS in Syria, the United States is allied with a Syrian Kurdish militia that Türkiye regards as a terrorist group. Türkiye has sharply criticized this US stance as a betrayal of a NATO ally.

Erdogan said it was necessary to end CAATSA sanctions, finalize Ankara's F-16 procurement process and its re-participation in the F-35 program in order to develop defense industry cooperation between Türkiye and the United States.

Ankara's past purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems prompted US sanctions and Türkiye’s removal from the F-35 fighter jet program in 2019.