Turkish-Syrian maneuvers disturb Israel

Turkish-Syrian maneuvers disturb Israel

[ 28/04/2009 - 09:13 AM ]

ISTANBUL, (PIC)-- Syria and Turkey commenced joint military exercises on the common borders on Monday described as the first of their kind between the two countries, a press release by the Turkish chief of staff said.

It said that the three-day maneuvers would start on Monday and end on Wednesday in a bid to boost friendship, cooperation and trust between the two countries' ground forces in addition to upgrading border forces' potential of working and training together.

The Turkish announcement was met with apprehension on the part of Israel, as its war minister Ehud Barak described the joint maneuvers as a "worrisome development ".

Israeli press sources pointed out that the Turkish army uses Israeli weaponry including drones and observation and control equipment.

The Syrian chief of staff Hassan Turkmani started on Sunday a five-day visit to Turkey during which he is to meet with his Turkish counterpart and other military officials of the countries participating in the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF'09).