Israel’s first two F-35 stealth fighter jets on their maiden flight as part of the Israeli Air Force on December 13, 2016. (Israel Defense Forces)
Late on May 31, dozens of Israeli Air Force fighter jets conducted a drill over the Mediterranean Sea, simulating a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.
In a statement released on June 1, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said that the large-scale drill included “long-range flight, aerial refueling and striking distant targets”. The drill has also focused on preparing for and responding to a retaliation by Iran to any such strike.
Israel’s Channel 13 reported that the US Air Force was supposed to serve as a complementary force with refueling planes during the drill. The US Central Command denied this report, saying “there is no direct US military involvement in that exercise.”
The drill was a part of the IDF’s Chariots of Fire exercise, which simulates a multifront and multidimensional war against Israel’s enemies, including Hezbollah, in the air, at sea, on land and on the cyber front. Nearly all branches of the IDF are taking part in the exercise, which is set to end on June 3.
Attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities will represent a serious challenge to the IDF. Not only these facilities are located far away from Israel’s border, but they are also well-fortified and protected by a complex air defense network.
These difficulties and Iran’s ability to strike back has forced Israel to refrain from taking any overt military action against Iranian nuclear facilities, so far.
Map of the main sites of Iran’s nuclear program. By Wikimedia user (Yagasi), translation of the original work by user (Sémhur).
With the talks between the US and Iran on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, that didn’t appease Israel, dragging on, Tel Aviv appears to be exploring its overt and covert military options, or at least using them to mount more pressure on Tehran.
In May, Israel was blamed for the assassination of Quds Force Colonel Hassan Sayad Khodayari in Tehran, as well as for the deadly explosion at Parchin military complex to the southwest of the Iranian capital.
Israel’s escalation will likely be met with a serious response from Iran, whose armed forces have been also preparing for a multifront and multidimensional military confrontation with both the IDF and the US military.
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Israel is not big enough militarily to fight wars along multiple fronts as would be the case, Iran, Hezb, Hamas et. el. But it knows it will never be alone, US and lapdogs will at the click of a finger, rush in to save their kinsmen.. Iran needs to rally allies to stand strong in such scenario.
Turnabout is fair play. Iran should take out Israel’s nuke plant if they attack.
Iran and Hezbollah agents need to find nuclear silo to halt the Samson option as much as they can
What. With ?
With Annas spin on my annals spin on my ANNAAASSSSSS!
NATO assets will be destroyed, and Israel will have to rely on fighting itself until USA makes another trip to the Middle East. Even with NATO, israel is fucked.
NATO going to fight Israel war is falling into Iran and Hezbollah trap, they’re ready for it, and NATO in the Middle East is too vulnerable against Iran and Hezbollah missile arsenal
Dumb shit Iran ain’t gonna do a damn thing. They just keep talking. Maybe planning to release the next footage of their newly invented 6th gen aircraft. Lol Meanwhile I’m wondering which will be next: a general, a scientist or a ship?
US and NATO getting spread pretty thin too. The neo cons are pushing the China conflict. If Israel starts a war and US gets involved, would be a perfect time for China to make a move on Taiwan. A lot going on right now. Good time to be in Uruguay.
I’ve long had my eye on Uruguay as a destination if/when the shit hits the fan. Inexpensive, nice countryside living situation and Montevideo ain’t bad, either. In recent times the government has been sane and responsive by Latin American standards. Plenty of beef and an improving wine culture. Nice people.
Why is that?
yeah ahahahahaha terrorists baby killers are good in simulation, but when the missils enter their anus dont came crying like parazites !!!
Loten If Iran was such an easy country to invade then USA would have INVADED IT LONG AGO READ THE HISTORY HOW NAPOLEON GOT DEFEATED WHEN HE INVADED RUSSIA IE WEATHER IN FEBRUARY WAS BRUTAL AND HERE IRANIAN TERRAIN IS INCREDIBLE zionist ARE INVITING THEIR OWN DEMISE
The US did invade Iran some years ago to free US hostages. That force had to be rescued by the Iranian military after the US bunko squad crashed their aircraft into each other. Those who survived that got lost.
Peter Jennings Please read again what I have stated You are confirming what I have stated ie terrain is hostile
Folks, do you remember what way was Apartheid I regime taken down? The same way it is possible to take down this murderous Khazar-Zionist Apartheid II regime. For this one thing is needed: Call these Khazars by their original name: KHAZARS and rest is spontaneous “Glasnost”. You do not get justice and peace without this.
Realistically speaking israel doesn’t close to enough of a strong Air Force to control Iran skies. They don’t even have enough tankers to launch multiple attacks deep in Iran. Hezbollah and Iran will target israel air bases, then Israeli jets will have no bases to return to. Syria s400 alone will be able to protect Lebanon, that excluding Hezbollah air defence. All that air defence will make Israeli jets vulnerable, and hard to do airstrikes at will
The situation has changed a lot in the past 20 years, that’s for sure.
20 years ago The axis of resistance were weaker technologically, but it would’ve resulted in the same outcome. 2006 Hezbollah gave israel hell, there’s no way israel would’ve been able to fight 2006 Hezbollah and try to fight Iran at the same time. IDF was stuck in battles with Hezbollah in 2006 for 2 weeks, and they still lost. A militia with soviet weapons was able to hold of a nuclear power for over 2 weeks in multiple battles, that should say enough.
People fail to understand that even if Israel trained for this next war, their troops now compared to 2006 are pussies. Their troops now are too soft, they’re either queers, or have panic attacks. Hezbollah soldiers still desire martyrdom, most people who join Hezbollah is because they want to go to Syria to die martyrs (true story) because martyrdom is seen as one of the most honourable ways to die for shias
Jnoub Historical fact In so called six days war PAKISTANIS PILOTS FLYING JORDANIAN AIRFORCE PLANES A SINGLE PILOT HAD 12 Kills ie based on no fear of death same applies to Hezbollah fighters and Iranian fighters
The isreali apartheid regime had to go to the US and ask that they broker a deal for them with Hezbollah, which they promptly broke of course. The isreali regime even bombed a US barracks, blaming it on Palestinians in the hope the US would step in with troops. That didn’t happen. The regime got a ‘peace’ deal instead which made them furious.
Because US is giving Ukrain long range missiles, Russia should give Iran S-400 anti Air batteries. 2 can play this game.
Well said. Arm Syria and Iran with Russian air defences that complement the Iranian missiles..
Putin will never do that – he’s far to loyal to the Zionist filth!
Anonymous Absolutely correct I salute you
Irrespective of whether he would or not, President Putin is a white Russian who knows his history.
Florian Geyer Wishful thinking I would never count on Russians
Russia already sold and delivered the S-300 PMU2 to Iran back in 2015:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAid6Y8Ryfg
Iran also has their own Bavar-373
They said if Iran makes a request for the S-400 they will provide it
Emrisrex FACT RUSSIANS ARE AT THIS STAGE MORE zionist then zionist in occupied Palestine Iran please do not count on these Russians
I’m sure there are lots of surprises in store for when the US and its nato poodles come calling. I dare say that the US hasn’t quite forgotten the calamity in the desert when trying to free US hostages at the US embassy.
And Top Gun Maverick is simulated drill for the masses
yes israel, please attack iran. than it will be a big “party” in israel, when hundrets of iranian long range missiles come in, flanked by thousands from hisbollah and iraki and syrian shia militias.
I don’t think Iran will ever truly be safe until they have a nuclear arsenal. That’s the only thing that stops the great satan from invading your country and murdering your citizens.
They have been conducting their exercises to “simulate attack on Iran’s nuclear sites” for two decades now. Back then we didn’t have a fragment of the capability we possess today (no pinpoint missiles, just limited number of highly inaccurate SCUD knock-offs, no reliable air defence just old Hawks and Rapiers and even older AAAs, no serious drone capability just short range RC planes, no anti-armour just RPG-7s and so on). Despite getting 20 years older our airforce is in a better shape now than then with the upgrades and overhauls but let’s be realistic. Our older generation warplanes aren’t suitable for a classic retaliatory attack in this scenario but it is usable inside the country if an attack comes.
Just forget about any attack on any of the “targets” on the map above but just one which happens to be the least valuable of all in terms of military/strategic value: The most vulnerable of Iran’s “nuclear sites” is the Bushehr nuclear power plant, situated right at the sea, where a sudden attack from the other side of the Persian Gulf (Arabia/Bahrain/UAE) can be performed without most of the attacking planes go flaming down. Why do you think they performed such an exercise over the sea? The problem is that such attack will lead to an environmental disaster not just for us but for all countries around this body of water, but it’s not something the Zionists care about. The fact is, this site is the most vulnerable, they know it and we know it. If they attack it the shaking Bennet cabinet scores a political point domestically and that’s all counts now (I pointed out in a comment not long ago about his fall and return of our homeboy. A calculating madman is still better than a desperate and know-nothing fool, so we do what we have to do. We always go to lower the risk first).
But, if all fails and such attack happens we face a few scenarios about how to respond. Clearly any country that such attack originates from will be a legal and justified target. We also don’t want to push and hammer the Izzies and their buddies so hard that they can’t find any other way but resorting to nuke the population centers. That’s our one restraining point. There are lots of options but the best ones are always the ones nobody expects.
As I read the comments I see some people suggest that Russia should arm Iran if it comes to war. Folk, it’s not going to happen, period. Obvious reasons aside, what we need Russia can’t give and what they can give we don’t need. For example, a successful, meaningful large scale retaliatory attack using airforce needs a considerable amount of military and support aircrafts (for a comparison the Kaman-99 operation involved about 200 military aircrafts of which 140 crossed the border. Or the attack on H-3, one of the most brilliant aerial operations in the history, about 1000km deep into Iraq a large number of jets were involved to attack just 3 airbases close to each other). Our current fleet is not suitable to do it, Russia can’t/won’t provide the needed number in time and even if they did/could, what about training the pilots and crew? The same for air defence and EW. But in this case we are in a much better shape and perhaps our own gear is enough. The only field we are lacking and Russia can help is the satellite intel. That’s it. Can we count on Russia? I’m not sure. The good news is, what we lack in this regard we compensate with on-the-field intel or HumanInt which we have no shortage of, trust me ;)
About our relationship with Russia, it’s expanding fast. Both nations can fill the area which the other one lacks. Every week new agreements are signed and the trade is increasing. Our banking systems are getting connected and I’m hoping in 3 months they are integrated. In agriculture they produce what we need and vice versa, also in high-tech, textile, leather, machinery, pharmaceutical, marine engines, shipbuilding, drilling and extraction and so on. Both countries also need laws to ease the investment of the other one. I hope the two countries’ cooperation move in that direction and not just weapons. I’d like to see a day where most of Iranian tourists go to Russia and so many Russians come here that creates a need for our people to learn Russian.
Related to the Zionist regime, a few months ago I also said something about a gas pipeline from there to Europe through Turkey. I’m sure we hear actual news shortly. Maybe our buddy arrives just in time to announce it!!
Israel needs the Iran nuclear arms tale to help justify the welfare it recives from the West. Israel cant surive without conflict, or at least the perceived threat of one.
Rmoo Absolutely correct
Nah, it was just training, but in real combat scenario, I don’t think IDF will easily find anyone who agree to pilot & drive such targets for Iran Air Defense and Missiles.
Dark Asian Male Correct analysis
This ‘simulation’ was more like a practice run. The world isn’t fooled. The isreali apartheid regime have been creating a rod for its own back for quite some time now. This rod will one day connect. Once american’s realise that the isreali apartheid regime assisted in the 2001 coup-de-tat, that rod will fall. Until then, the abuse goes on.