Israel, Greece conduct joint naval exercise for operational scenarios, sinking hostile ships

Israel and Greece conducted a joint naval exercise in the Mediterranean, practicing operational scenarios including sinking an enemy vessel with missile fire. The drill was led by the commanders of both navies and highlights growing military cooperation between Jerusalem and Athens, potentially signaling to Ankara.

Israel and Greece conducted a joint naval exercise in the Mediterranean Sea this week, practicing a series of operational scenarios including sinking an enemy vessel with missile fire. The drill was led by Israeli Navy Commander Vice Adm. Eyal Harel and his Greek counterpart Vice Adm. Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras, with the participation of the Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, Gen. Dimitrios Choupis. Israeli Navy missile boats and vessels from several units of the Greek Navy participated. The exercise practiced identifying and neutralizing maritime threats, sailing as a combined force, and developing a shared maritime operational picture. The exercise comes amid the longstanding rivalry between Greece and Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean, including disputes over maritime boundaries. Although the IDF did not present the exercise as a message directed at Turkey, the joint offensive drill underscores their military capabilities and growing defense ties. In December 2025, Israel, Greece, and Cyprus signed a trilateral military cooperation plan for 2026 covering joint exercises and strategic military dialogue. The IDF described the exercise as a significant leap forward in military and naval cooperation. The growing partnership also follows discussions about establishing a joint rapid-response force.