Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz is expected in Cyprus in the next couple of days to watch the large bilateral military exercise on the island Agapinor, which started on Sunday.

The National Guard are taking part in the exercise as are land are air force representatives from the Israeli armed forces.

According to the Jerusalem Post, Gantz had written on Twitter that he had spoken to his “friend” and Cypriot counterpart Charalambos Petrides with whom he had discussed the importance of the exercise.

“I stressed,” he wrote, “the military bond between our two countries that contributes to regional stability”.

The Israeli military forces are calling the exercise by a different name, Chariots of Fire.

It will finish on Thursday.

The ministry of defence said the exercise was part of bilateral defence agreements with Israel, and shows the excellent relations between the two countries over the last few years in terms of defence and security.