The Israeli Air Force conducted on Friday landing operations of its forces in the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, as part of exercises simulating military attacks on Iran, sources in Tel Aviv said.
This week, incoming Israeli Army Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir told the high command that 2025 will be a year of war focused on Iran.
Israeli media, quoting military sources, said on Friday, that Israel is taking advantage of its occupation of the Mount Hermon summits, which are very similar to geographical areas in Iran, to conduct exercises that will simulate large-scale war scenarios.
Eyewitnesses thought the landing operations came to support Israeli forces already stationed at the Mount Hermon (2814 meters above the sea) and on its slopes, where temperature ranges between 10 and 14 below zero.
The landing forces carried food, medical equipment, clothes and ammunition. They also conducted training exercises simulating the evacuation of the wounded and trapped soldiers.
Eyewitnesses later realized that the landing was part of aerial war exercises, the source said.
They added that the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, occupied by Israel three months ago, are devoid of infrastructure. Therefore, the hills could only be reached by air.
The sources affirmed that Friday’s exercises were conducted by 124 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force, which carried out air strikes targeting airports and military sites containing weapons in Syria, just days after the fall of Bashar Al-Assad regime.
On Thursday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it conducted a Bomber Task Force Mission in the Middle East, strengthening partner interoperability and demonstrating force projection capabilities in the region.
A B-52H Stratofortress from RAF Fairford, UK, flew across Europe and into the CENTCOM area of responsibility during their mission, which included aerial refueling and training opportunities with partner nations, it added.
Israeli threats against Iranian nuclear facilities escalated after US President Donald Trump took office early this year.
On Wednesday, a group of 77 retired US generals and admirals have called on Trump to support possible Israeli military action against Iran, warning that Tehran is nearing nuclear weapons capability.
