August 15, 2007	Wednesday	Sha’aban 1, 1428

JERUSALEM: Navy and air forces of Israel, Turkey and the United States will stage joint search and rescue exercises in late August south of the Turkish coast, the Israeli army announced on Tuesday.

Ten ships, four helicopters and four search and rescue aircraft from the three countries will partake in the “Reliant Mermaid VIII” exercise in international waters in the Mediterranean south of the Turkish coast, it said.

“The objective of this exercise is to practice coordinated emergency search and rescue procedures and measures for safety of life at sea,” a spokesman said in a statement.

“By enhancing their inter-operability, cooperation and coordination levels during the exercise, elements of the three naval and air forces will be able to respond more efficiently and rapidly to potential maritime emergencies as well as to humanitarian assistances in the future,” it said.—AFP