Israeli training over Iran with American logistical support in preparation for a possible joint attack

Tel Aviv - Ofoq News - Media reports reported that Israeli F-35I aircraft carried out air exercises over Iranian territory, with American logistical support, in conjunction with the White House’s request to the US Department of Defense to update military options to target targets inside Iran, including the possibility of carrying out an operation before the midterm congressional elections next November.

The "Erem News" website reported that Western sources said that the White House officially asked the Pentagon to prepare and update options for military strikes against Iranian targets, at a time when US President Donald Trump continues to deny his intention to launch an attack of this kind before the elections.

According to the sources who spoke to the site, these statements may be part of an attempt to maintain ambiguity and ensure the element of surprise, a strategy that the sources said Trump also used before previous military operations against Iran.

The report added that any decision to carry out military action may not be limited to the United States alone, as one of the scenarios presented includes the possibility of launching coordinated and joint strikes between the United States and Israel.

Discussions with the Israeli Chief of Staff and raising the state of alert

The report indicated that these developments come in the wake of previous reports that talked about discussions recently held by Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir with senior American officials regarding the operational readiness of both sides.

In the same context, reports indicated that the alert level in Israel had been raised, against the backdrop of the possibility that the White House would eventually give the green light to carry out a military operation against Iran.

Reports quoted Israeli military sources as saying that the Israeli Air Force's F-35I aircraft, known as "Adir", carried out unusual and direct air training over Iranian territory.

According to these reports, the training was based on American logistical support, which included air refueling over Iraq using a KC-46A refueling aircraft.

If the operation takes place as described, it will not only represent, according to the report, a test of Israel’s ability to reach deep into Iranian territory, but also indicates the level of operational coordination between Washington and Tel Aviv.

Political analyst Muhanna Shteiwi told the “Erem News” website that the sequence of field developments indicates, in his estimation, advanced American-Israeli preparations for the possibility of carrying out a large-scale air attack deep inside Iran.

He added that the simulation exercises and air penetration operations attributed to the “Adir” aircraft are consistent with information published by Western media about the Trump administration’s request to the Pentagon to update operational plans to launch a possible attack on Iran before the midterm elections.

Shteiwi considered that the entry of Israeli aircraft into Iranian airspace, if it actually happened, would have been difficult to implement without American logistical and technical support.

He pointed out that carrying out air refueling over Iraq, according to what was reported, may indicate that American-Israeli coordination has gone beyond the stage of deterrence alone, and is close to building a joint offensive capability.

Shteiwi warned that the refueling occurring over Iraq may put Baghdad in the face of great political and security embarrassment, explaining that actual control over Iraqi airspace is still largely affected by the radar and control systems associated with the American-led joint air operations system.

He added that this gives the operation, if its details are correct, a political significance, as Iraq may find itself linked, albeit indirectly, to preparations for military action against its neighbor Iran.

Was the training a rehearsal for a possible attack?

Western intelligence reports mentioned in the report stated that the recent Israeli training was not just a show of force, but rather may have constituted a rehearsal for the possibility of targeting fortified facilities deep in Iran.

One of the most prominent challenges facing the Israeli Air Force is the distance, as the distance between the launch bases inside Israel and some targets in Iran, according to the report, ranges between about 1,500 and 2,000 kilometers.

Despite the stealth and penetration capabilities of the F-35 aircraft, their operating range remains relatively limited compared to these distances, which makes air refueling a crucial element in any long operation inside Iranian territory.

According to reports, the aircraft trained to penetrate areas protected by air defense systems, while avoiding the operation of active radar systems and relying on passive detection mode.

It was also reported that the training included testing electronic warfare systems installed on aircraft, some of which were specially developed by Israeli security and military companies.

According to this account, the goal was to test the ability to jam or “blind” Iranian ground detection stations, limiting their ability to track aircraft and direct defense systems toward them.

The report added that the training also included simulating flying and positioning over strategic facilities related to the Iranian missile and nuclear programs.

Preparations that go beyond theoretical scenarios

An analysis published by the "Erem News" website found that the logistical and operational activity attributed to the United States and Israel indicates that preparations in the region are no longer limited to theoretical plans or scenarios discussed within research centers.

If the reports are true, some of the basic elements of any potential operation, including penetrating deep into Iranian territory, air refueling, operating electronic warfare systems, and dealing with Iranian defense systems, are subject to practical testing.

However, there has yet to be official confirmation from the United States or Israel that a decision to launch an attack has been made. Also, the reports regarding the flights of F-35 aircraft over Iran and the Pentagon’s plans are based on media sources and reports, and not on an official announcement from the two governments.

Thus, the question remains whether these moves aim to enhance deterrence against Tehran, or whether they represent operational preparations for the possibility of the military scenario becoming a reality.