ANALYSIS: Israel and US Finally Teaming Up to Counter Danger From Iran
Iran meanwhile threatens to bomb the Knesset and Ben-Gurion Airport in the event of war.
Israeli F-16s are refueled by a US Air Force tanker during a joint exercise simulating a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.
Israel and US hold joint military aerial exercise
Iran’s nuclear program is running at full steam and Israel is realizing that the incoming government of Benjamin Netanyahu will most likely have to take military action against Iran.
However, Israel needs the help of the Americans to take such action because, for example, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) does not yet have the necessary tanker planes, converted civilian aircraft that allow for the re-fueling of fighter jets midair after an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The IAF is holding a major drill this week with the United States Air Force (USAF) to simulate an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
In addition to advanced fighter jets, the Americans also brought KC-135 tanker aircraft with them and air defense missile shields.
The exercise is the result of an agreement between Israel and the USAF that stipulated that the US Air Force will assist the IAF in the event of a future Israeli strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Israeli army chief of staff Aviv Kochavi was in Washington last week where he finally signed the new agreement with the US and met with the top of the US army for five days in a row.
The IAF has a budget of NIS 3.5 billion to conduct these exercises in preparation for military action against Iran.
Iran is preparing attacks on Israeli civilian targets
Iran, in turn, is not sitting on its hands and is now seriously taking into account that a military attack on its nuclear facilities, which are constantly being expanded, is imminent.
The regime in Tehran, through its other mouthpiece Tasnim News, said it has compiled a list of sensitive targets in Israel that will be targeted in the event of war with the Jewish state.
The list includes civilian infrastructure targets such as the Ramon and Ben Gurion airports, as well as the Knesset building.
Concern about Iran’s increased nuclear activity
The Islamic Republic is now close to producing the highly enriched uranium (90 percent) needed for the manufacture of nuclear weapons.
Iran currently already has enough highly enriched uranium (60 percent) that it can quickly upgrade to 90 percent.
This amount is enough for the production of two nuclear weapons, experts say.
The same experts say Iran will be able to mount a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile within two years, but they are not so sure whether the Islamic Republic already has this capacity.
After all, it was repeatedly shown that Iran had undeclared nuclear facilities where, for example, tests with detonators for nuclear weapons were carried out (IRGC base Parchin).
Netanyahu, the incoming Prime Minister of Israel, has now announced that he again wants to mobilize world public opinion against Iran after his return to office.
This will then be the last Israeli attempt to stop Iran through non-military means.
The leader of the Likud party has had success with this tactic before, but will have to focus on strengthening the strategic alliance with the US army and the relationship with the Biden Administration at the same time.
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