WASHINGTON, July 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy last week carried out an exercise to check out the communications network of its Aegis anti-ballistic missile warships throughout the Middle East region, the Navy Times reported Friday.

The five-day ballistic missile defense exercise was conducted from June 28 through July 2, with two destroyers, the USS Benfold in the Persian Gulf and the USS Russell in the eastern Mediterranean, the newspaper said.

According to a statement issued by the U.S. 6th Fleet from its base in Naples, Italy, the exercise was "long scheduled," with planning initiated last year.

The exercise took place as Rear Adm. Bill Gortney took over command of the U.S. 5th Fleet in the Persian Gulf. Gortney had previously commanded the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group during a seven-month deployment that included a tour of duty in the Persian Gulf, the Navy Times said.

Gortney takes command at a time of rapidly rising tensions between the United States and Iran. In June, the Israeli air force held maneuvers that have been described as a possible dry run for an air attack to knock out Iran's key nuclear facilities.