USA defends naval exercise with Turkey and Israel

The United States has defended its planned naval manoeuvres with Turkish and Israeli forces in the Mediterranean, off the Israeli coast.

A State Department spokesman said the operation was only search-and-rescue exercise and was not directed against any party.

The one-day exercise, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, has been strongly criticized by some Arab countries.

Correspondents say they are unhappy about growing military cooperation between Israel and Turkey.

Arab countries have also criticized Jordan's decision to send the commander of its navy, Rear Admiral Hussein Khassawneh, as an observer to the exercise.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service