Tel Aviv: Earlier this week, the Israeli and US Air Forces conducted a major joint military exercise over the Mediterranean Sea, according to a report in Israel’s Kan broadcasting corporation.
According to this report, a great number of fighter jets, strategic B-52 bombers and refueling aircraft participated in the exercise simulating coordinated strikes on shared targets. In recent years, the US and Israel have conducted a number of joint exercises of their air forces.
Separate exercises were conducted to simulate joint operations of the two countries air defence systems. These included the deployment of US THAAD air defence systems in Israel. Israel operates a special facility that enables joint simulation of different air defence systems including those of another country.
The joint air forces exercise comes when the signs are that Israel plans an action against the Iranian nuclear facilities.
Senior officers from the US central command (CENTCOM) are regularly visiting Israel to fully coordinate with their Israeli counterparts.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
