Israeli air force simulate attack on Iranian nuclear facilities

Dozens of Israeli Air Force fighter jets conducted aerial maneuvers over the Mediterranean Sea, simulating an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, according to the Times of Israel.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, the exercises included long-range flying, aerial refueling and strikes against distant targets.

Earlier this month, The Times of Israel learned that the exercise – part of the major military exercise Chariots of Fire – will simulate a large-scale attack on Iran, including its nuclear facilities.

The “chariots of fire”, which involve almost all units of the Israel Defense Forces, have focused on preparing for hostilities on Israel’s northern borders, including against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Early last year, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi announced that he had instructed the military to begin developing new plans to attack Iran. By September, Kochavi said the army had “significantly accelerated” preparations for action against Tehran’s nuclear program.

However, Defense Department officials believe that while some aspects of the Air Force’s strike plans, which are still at an early stage, could be ready within a short period of time, others will take more than a year to become fully applicable.