The IDF announced on Saturday that Israel and the US will hold a joint military exercise later in February with the focus on training in ballistic missile warfare. The war games called ‘Juniper Cobra’ aims to prepare the two armies for the threat of a missile attack as well as helping to improve cooperation between the two militaries, the Times of Israel reported. Press TV reports: The drill, staged every two years, is said to be in the works since 2014, when thousands of soldiers from both armies took part in a five-day event that included simulations of a missile attack. “This exercise is designed to improve cooperation and coordination between militaries,” the Israeli military said in a statement, adding that it is to be staged “in the context of a long-standing strategic partnership.” The development comes as reports say Israeli officials have asked Washington to increase its annual military assistance by 60 percent to an average of USD 5 billion a year over the 2018-2028 period. Under the existing agreement that was signed in 2007 and expires in 2017, annual military aid to Israel grew to more than USD 3 billion a year. That deal was negotiated during the administration of the previous [...]