Claim: Israel air force drills for all out war

It may be that the Israel Air Force held such a drill, but none of the usual sonic booms were to be heard. That may be because there were no long range sorties.

 

IAF holds drill simulating all-out war

 

May. 21, 2009
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST
Israel Air Force squadrons took part in a large scale drill simulating war on all fronts over the past four days, Channel 10 reported Thursday.

 

Fighter jets, cargo planes and missile defense systems of the corps took part in the drill where defense from a simultaneous attack against Israel from the south and the north simultaneously was exercised.

 

Unlike previous drills, the air force did not train in long-range sorties, such as those that would be carried out during an offensive targeting Iran's nuclear facilities; the drill this past week focused on defending the country.

 

During the exercise, the scenario included war against Hamas in the South and war against both Hizbullah and Syria in the North.

 

In early Jnue, the Israeli home front will be exercised in the most far-reaching rehearsal for an emergency rocket attack ever carried out. All Israelis will be instructed to enter secure spaces as sirens will sound out throughout the country.

 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who received a briefing on the results of the past week's exercise, was positively impressed and said "we have a strong air force and this gives us a sense of security."

 

Referring to the Iranian test-launch of a long range ballistic missile on Wednesday, Barak said it was "another proof that we must develop means to confront" the Iranian threat.