Israel, Greece, and Cyprus Launch Joint Open-Sea Oil Spill Drill
Israel, Greece, and Cyprus have launched a first-of-its-kind joint maritime drill in the Mediterranean Sea to test open-water responses to large-scale oil spills.
An Israeli delegation headed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection departed for Cyprus on Tuesday to participate in a first-of-its-kind international drill. Forces from Israel, Greece, and Cyprus are practicing a joint operational response in the open sea to a large-scale marine oil spill scenario.
Joint Regional Preparedness
The exercise combines maritime and aerial operations alongside coordination through a joint command center. Its stated goal is to strengthen regional readiness and the ability of the nations to share information and deploy mutual aid assets to protect the Mediterranean Sea. Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman is scheduled to participate in a high-level political meeting at the command center alongside government representatives from Greece and Cyprus.
Broad Inter-Agency Delegation
The diverse Israeli delegation includes Senior Deputy Director General for Inspection and Enforcement Iris Chalit, and National Marine Environment Protection Unit Director Fred Arzouan, who serves as Israel's incident commander. The team also features representatives from the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research institute, the Shipping and Ports Authority, the Maritime Police, and the Israeli Navy, highlighting a multi-agency approach to environmental hazards.
Strategic Cooperation
The current drill builds on years of command center exercises and professional cooperation held under a trilateral agreement signed in 2018, as well as the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea. Officials noted that the exercise marks a transition from simulated tabletop exercises to active field operations in the open sea.
