An Israel Navy Shaldag-class fast patrol boat. Photo: IDF.

JNS.org – Israeli representatives observed a four-day international maritime drill known as the “Exercise Argonaut” in Cyprus this week.

Naval forces from Cyprus, Greece, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Hungary, and the U.S. took part in this year’s exercises in the Larnaca district of Cyrpus.

Rescue drill scenarios simulated terrorist hijackings, mass evacuations of civilians from a disaster scenario in the Middle East and other events.

One such real-life emergency evacuation scenario occurred during the 2006 Lebanon War between Israel and terror group Hezbollah, and involved more than 25,000 foreign nationals — many of whom were Westerners — who were evacuated to Cyprus.

Last year, the Israeli Air Force participated in several joint military exercises with Cyprus.

In the backdrop of burgeoning military cooperation between the three Mediterranean allies, lawmakers from Greece, Israel and Cyprus signed a memorandum of understanding to boost cooperation and enhance ties in January of this year.