Israel has joined forces with Greece to conduct an aerial maneuver to practice long-range missions and mid-air fueling, a report says.
The war game codenamed “MINOAS 2010”, is carried out at a Greek air base in Souda Bay, on the island of Crete, Haaretz reported.
During the exercise, the Israeli Air Force tested 10 planes including five F-15I Rams and five F16I Sufas. The planes are designed for long-range attacks.
Israeli CH-53 helicopters were also used in the exercise, practicing rescue missions for pilots, while an IAF Boeing took part in aerial refueling.
According to the report, Greece, which possesses the sophisticated S-300 anti-missile system — which Iran is interested in acquiring, participated in the maneuver with fifteen F16s.
The report comes as Israel continues to threaten Iran with a military strike to target the country’s nuclear infrastructure.
Tehran, a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), says its nuclear activities are aimed at the civilian applications of the technology.
Israel, the possessor of the Middle East’s sole nuclear arsenal, alleges that the Tehran government is bent on starting a “nuclear war.”
The maneuver is coinciding with efforts in Washington to win international support to push for more sanctions against Iran.
ASH/MD
