Israeli fighter jets are reportedly conducting training flights using runways in Cyprus and Greece as part of contingency planning for a potential conflict with Iran.
Sources familiar with the matter told an Arab news outlet that Israeli Air Force aircraft have been carrying out ongoing training exercises involving takeoffs and landings at civilian and military airports in Cyprus and Greece.
According to the sources, the purpose of these drills is to ensure safe diversion and evacuation routes for Israeli combat aircraft in the event of a large-scale confrontation with Iran. The concern driving the exercises is the possibility that Israeli air bases could be targeted by Iranian missile strikes during a future escalation.
The Israeli Air Force has previously practiced operating from alternative runways abroad, aiming to guarantee uninterrupted aerial activity if landings at domestic bases become impossible due to missile damage or other disruptions. The current drills reportedly expand and refine these contingency plans.