In June, 100 Israeli warplanes staged a secretive long-range air exercise over the eastern Med that was "a rehearsal for a potential attack on Iran's nuclear sites," according to some news outlets. Now Iran's flyboys are issuing veiled threats of their own.
"We have succeeded in upgrading the capabilities of our planes and have increased the range of these planes to 3,000 kilometers (1,860 miles)
without refueling," Iranian General Ahmad Mighani was quoted saying.
If true, that would put Israel in range. (Mighani didn't specify which type of planes, but Iran's air force includes F-14s and Su-24s that already have fairly long legs.)
But "Iran's claims about its military capabilities are often greeted with skepticism by Western experts," Defense News notes. Indeed, remember Iran's new "stealth fighter"? Or the ship-killing "flying boat?"
By the same token, at least one writer labeled Israel's air exercise "political theater" meant to prod faltering diplomatic efforts to shut down Iran's nuke program. Iran's threats might represent a sort of propaganda counter-strike.
(Photo: IRNA)
