Israeli voices concern over an upcoming joint military exercise which will bring together Turkish and Syrian troops for the first time.

"Today we see a Syrian-Turkish drill, which is certainly a troubling development," Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told reporters on Monday.

"But I believe that the strategic ties between Israel and Turkey will overcome even Turkey's need to take part in this drill," he added.

Turkey and Syria will hold their first joint military exercise this week to enhance ties between the two countries' land forces, Turkish military declared in a statement on Sunday.

"The aim of the exercise is to boost friendship, cooperation and confidence between the two countries' land forces, and to increase the ability of border troops to train and work together," the military said.

The announcement of the Turkish, Syrian military maneuver comes just a day after the new Israeli government led by Hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was irked by Washington's green light to Turkey to proceed with a large-scale weapons sale to the Lebanese army.

The agreement was signed between Turkey and Lebanon in Ankara on Thursday.

Israel military sources have claimed that "a Lebanese army, well-trained and armed by Turkey" could threaten "Israel's security."

MGH/DT