Israeli Air Force Simulates Military Strikes On Iran Nuclear Facilities

According to a statement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), dozens of fighter jets conducted a drill that included "long-range flight, aerial refueling, and striking distant targets" over the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday night. 

In May, The Times of Israel reported that the drill would simulate a large-scale strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities. The exercise is part of the military’s major Chariots of Fire drills, which involves nearly all branches of the IDF, and has been focusing on training for fighting on Israel’s northern borders, including against the Iran-backed group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi announced last year that he the army had “greatly accelerated” preparations for action against Tehran’s nuclear program, that would include finding ways to strike facilities that are buried deep underground and preparing for an expected retaliation against Israel by Iran and its allies throughout the region

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said Monday Iran must understand that it will pay the price for its terrorist activities and threatening Israelis around the globe, in reference to Iranian threats of revenge for the assassination last week of Revolutionary Guard colonel Hassan Sayyad-Khodaei in Tehran.

He was a commander in Iran’s extra-territorial Qods (Quds) Force reportedly in charge of organizing attacks against Israel.