A joint naval exercise carried out by Israel, France, Greece and Greek Cypriot administration in the Mediterranean Sea concluded on Friday, the Israeli military said.

Helicopters as well as naval vessels participated in the weeklong exercise, Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a statement.

Search and rescue trainings were held as part of the exercise, Adraee said.

The purpose of the annual exercise is to increase cooperation between the fleets of participating countries and to deepen professional knowledge, he added.