From the Liveblog of
Thursday, March 6, 2025
In likely message to Iran, Israeli and US air forces carry out joint drill with heavy bomber
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The Israeli Air Force held a joint exercise with the US Air Force this week, during which pilots “practiced operational coordination between the two militaries to enhance their ability to address various regional threats.”
The drill included Israeli F-15I and F-35I fighter jets flying alongside a US B-52 bomber.
“The exercise aimed to strengthen and maintain the long-standing cooperation between the forces while expanding connectivity and building integrated capabilities for a range of scenarios,” the IDF says.
The drill is potentially aimed at readying the Israeli military for a potential joint strike with the US on Iran. The IAF has already carried out two strikes on Iran without US support, but would likely need the heavy capabilities of the B-52s to effectively hit Iran’s heavily fortified underground nuclear sites.
