By Amos Harel
The Israel Air Force held a major drill yesterday simulating a war between Israel and Arab states and terrorist groups. As part of the drill, the air force tested readiness against attacks, including rockets and missiles targeting the home front from multiple directions.
Even though the plan was not substantively different from drills in previous years, it drew international media attention because of recent developments in Iran's nuclear program and Iran's test-firing Wednesday of a ballistic missile with an estimated 2,000-kilometer range - which would put Israel within reach.
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Most air force squadrons participated in the drill, including interceptors, attack aircraft, helicopters, transport and refueling aircraft, the air defense system and air force intelligence. The drill also involved ground forces.
The scenario being tested, most of whose details remain classified, involved fighting on multiple fronts: against Hamas and Hezbollah, but also Syria and Iran to some degree.
Unlike the summer 2008 drill, which the New York Times reported involved a test flight for a long range attack on Iran, carried out in Greek airspace, there was nothing of the sort this time.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said yesterday that the drill "was a very important one. What we witnessed bolsters our confidence that we have people we can rely on."
The air force drill is part of broad Israeli preparations for a potential regional war, including attacks by Iran, or a conflict limited to the northern front - Lebanon and Syria.
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