Israeli soldiers to join Moroccan war games for first time

Israel took part in 'African Lion' event last year but only as international military observers

Members of the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces watch an explosion during the 'African Lion' military exercise in 2022. AFP

Israeli soldiers will for the first time take part in military exercises in Morocco when the biggest war games event in Africa starts on Tuesday.

“This is the first time that the IDF is taking an active part in the 'African Lion' international exercise,” the Israeli army said late on Monday.

“A delegation of 12 soldiers and commanders from the Golani Reconnaissance Battalion” – an elite infantry unit – has been sent to take part along with 8,000 soldiers from 18 countries.

The event, now in its 19th session, is organised by Morocco and the US.

“During the next two weeks, the soldiers will focus on training in various combat challenges that combine urban warfare and underground warfare, in which they will conclude in a common exercise for all participating armies,” the Israeli statement said.

Israel took part in the event last year, but only as international military observers.

The Moroccan Royal Armed Forces said the war games included exercises in operational planning and fighting against weapons of mass destruction, tactical land, sea, air and special forces training, and airborne operations.

Morocco and Israel have been working to boost co-operation in the military, security, trade and tourism fields since they normalised ties in December 2020.

Last month, the US National Guard, who are taking part in the training, said the exercise would involve “live fire” and focus on combined arms operations.

Combined arms operations involve the careful synchronisation of different branches of the military, for example ensuring that artillery fire keeps enemy forces from seeking shelter while friendly forces advance on their positions. It is often described as the most complex aspect of a military operation.

“African Lion gives us the opportunity to conduct joint fires, both land-based artillery and aircraft,” said Maj Kurt Shingledecker, a National Guard artillery officer, in a press release.

“This has been a good opportunity for us to synchronise fires in a combined arms environment, as well as a multinational environment,” he said.

Photos of the exercise posted by the Moroccan armed forces on Tuesday showed helicopter medical evacuation, as well as officers standing over a large map of Europe showing the positions of military units.

The map exercise was attended by Lt Gen Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Moroccan Armed Forces and commander of the country's military southern region.

Morocco has a standing army of about 175,000 personnel, but can call on about 150,000 reservists, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a UK-based think tank.