On March 4, U.S. and Israeli forces began joint exercises for the 12-day Juniper Cobra 2018 wargame, designed to improve coordination between the two militaries. The exercise consists of responding to threat scenarios using computer-assisted simulations that range from rocket threats to crisis resupply, foreign disaster response and foreign humanitarian assistance. Integrated ballistic missile defense remains the focal point of the exercises. Approximately 2,000 IDF Aerial Defense and 2,500 U.S. troops from European Command (EUCOM) are participating. This wargame is the ninth in a series of biennial Juniper Cobra exercises conducted in Israel since 2001.