Iron Wolf: NATO Kicks Off Drills With Over 5,000 Troops in Lithuania

More than 5,000 troops from Denmark, France, Germany, Lithuania, Luxembourg and the United States will participate in the Iron Wolf 2016, a part of larger NATO maneuver Saber Strike.

VILNIUS (Sputnik) – International military drills Iron Wolf 2016 that are a part of larger NATO maneuver Saber Strike 2016 started on Monday in Lithuania, the country’s Defense Ministry said.

"Troops from various allied states that will carry out different military operations with us and, if necessary, effectively react on different security challenges, will participate in the drills," the ministry's statement read.

The maneuver will last until June, 16. More than 5,000 troops from Denmark, France, Germany, Lithuania, Luxembourg and the United States will participate in the drills.

The troops will use the Leopard tanks, the Boxer multirole armored fighting vehicles, the PzH self-propelled howitzers and the Stryker armored vehicles. US A-10 aircraft and B-52 strategic bombers will also be involved in the drills.

Since 2014, NATO has been building up its military presence in Europe, particularly in eastern European countries bordering Russia, using Moscow's alleged interference in Ukraine as a pretext for the move. Russia has repeatedly warned that NATO's military build-up in Europe is provocative and can result in regional and global destabilization.

NATO exercises and deployments near Russia since 2014

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