Click to see full-size image. Source: the Israeli Defense Forces.
On November 30, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) shared details on a series of joint air exercises it held with the United States military over the last 48 hours, simulating strikes against Iran and its allies in the Middle East.
During the exercises, which took place over Israel and the Mediterranean Sea, four F-35i fighter jets of the Israeli Air Force (IAF) accompanied four U.S. F-15 fighter jet, while an American KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft refueled several Israeli F-16i fighter jets.
In a statement, the IDF said that the joint air exercises “simulated an operational scenario and long-distance flights” and provided some technical details.
“The IDF Intelligence Directorate conducted an extensive simulation replicating campaign against distant countries, testing the IDF’s abilities of intelligence gathering, target determination and outlining, and making intelligence available to operational forces,” the statement reads.
“These exercises are a key component of our two militaries’ increasing strategic cooperation in response to shared concerns in the Middle East, particularly those posed by Iran.”
The office of the Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said that he observed a part of the joint drills from the IAF’s underground control center. According to a statement by the office, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi, and IAF chief Tomer Bar showed the PM the various scenarios being exercised and discussed the Iranian threat.
“The strategic cooperation with the United States and other countries strengthens the IDF’s capabilities in the face of challenges in the Middle East, chiefly Iran,” Lapid said.
The joint exercises were agreed upon in Kohavi’s five-day trip to the U.S. last week. During the visit, the senior IDF commander told American defense officials in Washington that joint plans for offensive actions against Iran must be accelerated.
While Israel continues to push for a military move to end Iran’s nuclear program, the Biden administration in Washington is still hopeful that the 2015 nuclear deal can be revived through talks with Tehran.
The nuclear talks have been on halt for a while now. Still, the U.S. will not likely risk a military confrontation with Iran, and Israel will not likely act on its own.
