"Ashkenazi does not minimize the Iranian threat, but believes the air force must concentrate on the immediate threats from Hizbullah and the Palestinians," an official said.

In an interview with the official Israel Air Force Journal, Shmueli cited the leading sources of regional instability as Lebanon, the PA and Iraq, Middle East Newsline reported. He said in any future war, the air force would attack civilian and military infrastructure of enemy states.

Shkedy was said to have been directed to intensify training and intelligence required for a rapid-response strike on the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria. Officials said the air force was regarded as having failed in its mission to destroy the launchers that fired an estimated 4,000 short-range Hizbullah rockets from Lebanon during the war in mid-2006.

"Iran doesn't engage every morning on the question of how to attack Israel," Brig. Gen. Ram Shmueli, head of air force intelligence, said. "Rather, Iran analyzes the basket of regional interests within its problematic neighborhood. The preoccupation with Israel, portrayed as a common enemy, strengthens the regime internally and regionally."

Officials said Ashkenazi has been revising the combat doctrine left by his predecessor, Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, who resigned under fire in February. They said the new chief of staff intends to bolster the ground forces and increase air force cooperation.

Already, officials said, the military has significantly increased joint air-ground exercises. They said the exercises would expand interoperability between air force helicopters and combat ground forces.

"Under Halutz, the air force held a virtual monopoly on combat operations," the official said. "Ashkenazi will build the army and use the air force to support ground operations."