Ready For War ? Israel, US hold joint strike drill

[lkdood]

Israel and the United States simulated war this week in a massive aerial drill that included dozens of F-16 fighter jets from both countries.

The exercise, known as Juniper Stallion, came as Turkey was holding its own aerial maneuvers with the US, which Israel was not a part of. The IAF holds about 10 joint exercises with the US Air Force annually, half of them in Israel.

Maj. O., deputy commander of F-16 Desert Defenders Squadron based at the Nevatim Air Force Base in the Negev, said that his pilots had a lot to learn from their American counterparts who arrived with 16 F-16 fighter jets from Europe.

The drill, he said, simulated a war in which the Israeli and American fighter jets were fighting against an unnamed enemy state.

“Working with so many planes is something that we do not get to do so often,” Maj. O. explained.



'Saudis to allow airspace for Iran war'

Saudi Arabia has reportedly launched a series of military maneuvers aimed at allowing Israeli jets to use the kingdom's airspace for an aerial attack on Iranian nuclear sites.

US defense sources speaking on condition of anonymity told The Times on Sunday that Israel has been given overflight clearance by Saudi Arabia and is permitted to use northern Saudi airspace in the event of military confrontation with Iran.

To clear the way for Israeli bombers en route to Iran, Riyadh has reportedly been conducting tests to practice keeping its own jets out of harms way while ensuring that missile systems in the kingdom remain completely deactivated.

"The Saudis have given their permission for the Israelis to pass over and they will look the other way," one US defense source said on Saturday.

"They have already done tests to make sure their own jets aren't scrambled and no one gets shot down. This has all been done with the agreement of the [US] State Department," he added.

Meanwhile, Arab sources reported that Saudi defense officials had made arrangements with Israel in case it decided to carry out its long-stalled military plans against Iran, stating that they both share a mutual hatred for the Iranian government and its nuclear activities.

For years, Israel has threatened to bomb Iran's nuclear installations. However, the likelihood of any such attack has significantly increased due to Tel Aviv's growing impatience with international sanctions, which have failed to change Tehran's stance on its peaceful nuclear issue.

 

[lkdood]

Israel preparing for prolonged ME war


Israel seems to be preparing for a prolonged war in the Middle East, demanding the United States for more military equipment and a boost of US-held arsenals in Israel.

The requests were brought up during recent visits to Washington by high-ranking Israeli defense officials, and in conversations with senior administration and Congress officials, Haaretz revealed in an article published on its website on Tuesday.

Among the requested weapons are US bombs and precision guidance kits, such as Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) that add GPS/INS guidance to bombs.

The JDAM kits have been increasingly used by the Israeli air force in recent offensives, including in the 2006 war against Lebanon and the 2008 Gaza war.

The priority list is said to indicate that Israel is preparing for the prospects of a long war, which would necessitate an extensive use of the air force to attack a large number of targets, along with ensuring enough spare parts and supplies.

Israel is also seeking to increase the amount of gear held by the American army in their emergency stores in Israel by 50 percent — that is from $800 million to $1.2 billion.

US President Barack Obama's administration provided Israel with the stockpile in December in line with Washington's efforts to step up its military assistance to Israel.

To date, $600 million worth of US-made rockets, bombs, aircraft ammunition and armored vehicles, along with other weapons has been placed in Israel as American emergency equipment.

The gear fully matches the equipment already used by the Israeli army and is cataloged upon arrival to ensure quick and easy access at a time of need.

The move seems to favor the US by bringing military equipment closer to areas where it might need to fight, while assisting Washington's closest Mideast ally in case of a possible war.

The US weapons in Israel are of great significance for Tel Aviv, which sees the arsenal as a guarantee that, in the event of an extensive conflict, the required ammunition and spare parts will be available in no time.

The move comes amid repeated warnings from the Palestinians, Lebanon, Syria and Iran, saying Israel is after waging a new war in the Middle East region .

presstv

 

[Banks PLK]

soon middle east will change in to a fire ball
iran will attack saudi too

U.s n israel will never stop playing with countries
so many innocent ppl will die

 

[lkdood]

soon middle east will change in to a fire ball
iran will attack saudi too

U.s n israel will never stop playing with countries
so many innocent ppl will die

 

[prasadana2]

War war ... @ the moment a explosion of a fire cracker is from iran is enough to start.. that mucht they are alert... i must say that Isrial has the best Figter pilots.. Thats y they served the SL airforce for a long time...

 

[anuru_1]

soon middle east will change in to a fire ball
iran will attack saudi too

U.s n israel will never stop playing with countries
so many innocent ppl will die

 

[smith saudi arabia]

Isreal & US War Monger

War war....israil's & USA..., never sleep out of war game.. is it 2010 war game...we have to pray for peace remain in the region from this monsters.......price going to have inccent millions lives.....

 

[Banks PLK]

Gulf states will not support any military action against Iran despite being wary about its nuclear programme, analysts said on Saturday.
"Saudi Arabia will not cooperate with Israel or any other country to attack Iran. We have always advocated a peaceful solution to the Iran crisis," Dr Abdul Aziz Hamad of King Saud University told Gulf News.
Saudi and US defence officials were quoted in a report in The Times as saying that Riyadh will allow Israeli jets to use its airspace if Tel Aviv decides to attack Iranian nuclear facilities.
"The Saudis have given their permission for the Israelis to pass over and they will look the other way," the London-based newspaper said, quoting a US defence source.
No support
"They have already done tests to make sure their own jets aren't scrambled and no one gets shot down. This has all been done with the agreement of the [US] State Department," the report said, quoting an unnamed Saudi official.
However, experts said although Gulf states continue to be concerned about Iran's designs, they would not support any military action against the Islamic republic.
Riad Kahwaji, General Director of the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, said the "[Times] report, in my opinion, is part of the psychological warfare between Iran and the US, because there is no need for Saudi-Israeli cooperation to allow the Jewish state to attack Iran."
He said Israel has the capability to attack the four main nuclear targets. "Israel's Dolphin submarines are equipped with cruise missiles capable of hitting the nuclear facilities.
"Three Israeli submarines, which most probably will be used in any military confrontation, are now in the Gulf waters," Kahwaji said.
"In addition to its submarines, Israel has facilities to evade radars and it has refuelling capabilities to fly over the Red Sea," he added.
Dr Mohammad Al Naqbi, Head of the Gulf Negotiation Centre in Abu Dhabi, said there is no doubt that the situation in the Gulf is quite critical and Israel might take advantage of it. But this does not mean the GCC would support the attack or cooperate with Israel, he said.
"In addition to its sub-marines, Israel has facilities to evade radars and it has refuelling capabilities to fly over the Red Sea," he added.

 

[fazil00789]

Kingdom denies airspace reports

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia denied Saturday foreign media reports suggesting that it has permitted Israel to use its airspace to launch attacks against Iran.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, an official source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "Saudi Arabia has noticed some false claims in some British media that it has permitted Israel to launch attacks on Iran using its airspace."

The source added that the Kingdom has reiterated its clear stance that it will never allow anyone to use its airspace or territory to attack any other country.

The source also said it is appropriate that the Kingdom should apply this principle on Israel with which it has no relations.

Source arabnews.com