Dozens of Israeli fighter jets and refueling aircraft flew toward the Iranian border in a military exercise that multiple sources say may have been intended to provoke an Iranian response to justify an Israeli strike.
The operation occurred overnight Oct. 19–20 and involved aircraft following a strike-like flight path before turning back, with some Israeli officials reportedly hoping Iranian forces would open fire.
The exercise coincided with U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s visit to Israel and came amid heightened tensions following the Feb. 28 launch of a U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
U.S. officials warned that Israeli air defenses would detect the approaching aircraft, raising concerns about miscalculation and prompting warnings from Israeli security officials about potential Iranian preemptive strikes.
The region remains on a knife’s edge as Israel prepares for elections, with the question unresolved whether the flight was a genuine deterrent exercise or a calculated provocation that could trigger broader conflict.
Dozens of Israeli fighter jets and refueling aircraft flew over Syria and Iraq toward the Iranian border earlier this week in what Israeli and U.S. officials described as a military exercise, but multiple sources say the maneuver may have been intended to provoke an Iranian response that could provide justification for an Israeli strike.
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