Israel took part Wednesday in annual drills off the southern coast of Cyprus to increase the security and safety of oil rigs and vessels amid the island's continuing tensions with Turkey over competing claims to hydrocarbon reserves.
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The internationally recognized government of Greek Cyprus is involved in an ongoing dispute with Turkey and the breakaway Turkish Cypriots over economic rights to offshore gas deposits in the Mediterranean.
Wednesday's "Nemesis" exercise around the port city of Larnaca included search and rescue, medical evacuation, anti-pollution operations, and a counter-terrorism simulation involving the liberation of an oil rig and support ship by Cypriot forces. The United States, France, Italy, Britain, and Egypt participated as well.
