In June, the air force deployed scores of F-15 and F-16 fighters in a
week-long exercise over the eastern Mediterranean. The exercise also
included search and rescue and refueling operations with Greece. On June 20,
Greece said the exercise with Israel took place off the island of Crete.
"But neither the existence of Israeli contingency plans nor the June
military exercises means that an attack is imminent," the U.S.-based
intelligence consultant, Stratfor, said.
U.S. officials said the June exercise contained more than 100 Israeli
combat aircraft as well as helicopters and refueling aircraft. They said the
exercise was meant to enhance deep strike capabilities that could be used
against Iran.
"They wanted us to know, they wanted the Europeans to know, and they
wanted the Iranians to know," a U.S. Defense Department official told the
New York Times on June 20. "There's a lot of signaling going on at different
levels."
Israel and the United States have been discussing Iran's nuclear weapons
program and the military option. On Saturday, U.S. Navy chief of naval
operations Adm. Gary Roughead began a four-day visit to Israel and was
scheduled to tour Israel Navy bases as well as the Saar-5 missile corvette
and the Dolphin-class submarine. The Dolphin was expected to be used in any
sea-based Israeli strike on Iran.
The Israeli military sources said the air force accelerated long-range
combat exercises over the last year. They said the exercises have taken
place around such countries as Greece, Italy and Turkey, with large areas
for combat training.
"The air force regularly trains for various missions to confront and
meet the challenges posed by the threats facing Israel," an Israeli
military statement said.
