The US and Israel are planning to hold a drill to simulate what they call possible missile strikes on Israel from Iran, Syria, Lebanon or Gaza.

The exercise will be carried out as part of ongoing maneuvers between Israel and the US, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Sunday.

According to the paper, the drill is also part of the US President Barack Obama’s new missile defense plan, under which the Pentagon will initially deploy ships with missile interceptors instead of stationing missile defense systems in Eastern Europe.

The objective of the missile plan is allegedly to counter "the threat of missile attack from Iran, not Russia."

The report came shortly before Defense Minister Ehud Barak was to leave for the US, where he was to meet with his counterpart, Robert Gates.

Last month, the Israeli army held a joint naval exercise with the US and Turkish militaries in international waters off Israel’s coast, the Israeli Army Radio had reported.

Six missile boats, three helicopters and two jets participated in the drill, which simulated search and rescue operations.

(Press TV)