The U.S. military has established its first permanent base on Israeli soil located inside an Israeli Air Force base in southern Israel.

“We’ve established, for the first time in the state of Israel, the IDF, a permanent U.S. military base, flying the American flag,” Brig. Gen. Zvika Haimovich, commander of the Israeli Air Force’s Aerial Defense Division, said in a statement.

The base is located within the IAF’s School of Aerial Defense and will house dozen of U.S. soldiers permanently stationed in Israel as part of a task force.

“This symbolizes the strong bond that exists between the United States and Israel,” Maj. Gen. Josh Gronski, deputy commanding general for the U.S. Army National Guard, said during a visit to the base.

According to the IDF, the base will provide space for the Israeli Air Force and American task force to improve detection, interception and deployment in aerial defense, while strengthening cooperation.

“Part of the process of establishing the foundation stems from the process of a culture of cooperation. I appreciate the way the Americans respect the state of Israel,” Haimovich said.