Israeli F-15s cancel drills in US to counter Iran
The Israeli Air Force will not send F-15s to participate in the US Red Flag exercise in Alaska amid rising tensions between Tel Aviv and Tehran.
Instead, these F-15 fighters will remain in the country and remain on high alert.
Red Flag is a large-scale air force exercise held several times a year by the United States in the states of Nevada and Alaska. Since 1975, squadrons from the US Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Army and the air forces of many allied countries have participated in Red Flag. Israel also regularly sends F-15 and F-16 fighters to participate in Red Flag exercises in Nevada.
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| Israeli F-15s will not participate in the Red Flag exercise in the US. Photo: AP |
This year Israel is said to intend to send 12 F-15s to participate in exercises in Alaska.
The decision to cancel the exercise and leave the F-15s in the country comes amid tensions between Israel and Iran and Syria.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, on April 9, two Israeli F-15s attacked the T-4 air base in Syria, killing seven Iranians operating there. This airstrike is believed to be in response to the shooting down of an Israeli F-16 by Syria in February 2018.
Following the attack on the T-4 base, Israel is believed to have put its F-15s on high alert in case Iran attacks again, as the Iranian Foreign Ministry has warned of a suitable response.
Israel currently operates a large number of F-15A/B/C/D fighter versions, along with 25 F-15I "Raam" multi-role fighters developed from the US F-15E Strike Eagle. The F-15 fleet is the backbone of Israel's long-range air strikes, air defense and reconnaissance operations./.
