Israeli jets escort American bomber in message to Iran

Israeli F-15 fighter jets escort an American B-52 bomber as it made its way through Israeli airspace en route to the Persian Gulf in an apparent show of force to Iran amid lingering tensions in the region.

“The flight was held as part of close cooperation with the US military, which represents a significant element in ensuring the security of the State of Israel’s airspace and the Middle East,” the Israel Defense Forces says in a statement.

Israeli jets escorting American bombers have become a regular fixture in the skies of the Middle East in recent months as tensions between Tehran and the West have risen amid an attempt to negotiate a new nuclear deal to prevent the Islamic Republic from obtaining an atomic weapon in exchange for sanctions relief.

The announcement of the flight comes as Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is en route to Bahrain for a landmark visit. The country is home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and has signaled openness to a bolstered defense relationship with Israel as they face off against common enemy Iran.