Israeli jets escort US bombers through region, in show of force to Iran

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Israeli F-15 fighter jets escort an American B-52 bomber through Israeli airspace en route to the Persian Gulf on February 14, 2022. (Israel Defense Forces)
Illustrative: Israeli F-15 fighter jets escort an American B-52 bomber through Israeli airspace en route to the Persian Gulf on February 14, 2022. (Israel Defense Forces)

Israeli F-16i fighter jets escort two American B-52 bombers as they made their way through Israeli airspace en route to the Persian Gulf, in an apparent show of force to Iran, given 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 during an attempt to negotiate a new deal that would block the Islamic Republic from obtaining nuclear weapons in exchange for sanctions relief.

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