Special to WorldTribune.com

ATHENS — Greece has hosted a regional naval exercise.

On March 25, Greece has hosted Noble Dina 2014 in cooperation with Israel and the United States.

The two-week naval exercise, headquartered in the Greek island of Crete, was taking place in the eastern Mediterranean.

This marked the third edition of Noble Dina, designed to focus on search-and-rescue and anti-submarine warfare missions.

Officials said Greece replaced Turkey in U.S.-sponsored regional naval exercises with Israel. Ankara has refused to participate in major exercises with Israel for nearly five years.

Israel has contributed a range of assets for Noble Dina. Officials cited a Dolphin-class electric-diesel submarine, Saar-5 missile boat, two Saar-4.5
platforms and a frogmen unit.

The first stage of the exercise was scheduled to last 24 hours in Crete. Later, Greece, Israel and the United States were expected to conduct a port security maneuver.

  Crete, Greece replaces Turkey in annual naval exercises with Israel, Mediterranean, Noble Dina 2014, U.S.