http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Media_reports:_Israeli_warplanes_training_in_Iraq

Media reports: Israeli warplanes training in Iraq

Sunday, July 13, 2008

In contrast with what unnamed source(s) in the Iraqi Defense Ministry told a
local news network on Friday, The Jerusalem Post reports that Major-General
Mohammad al-Askari, spokesman for the Iraqi Defense Ministry was denying
earlier reports that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) has been training personnel
and allegedly performing military exercises in Iraq.

On July 11, an unnamed Iraqi sources told local news outlets in the country
that the IAF was performing military exercises in the country and was using
American military bases for places to land. The alleged exercise, claimed
the sources, was an exercise aimed at preparing an attack on Iran.

The sources further stated that Israeli planes fly in from Jordan during the
dead of night and land near the Iraqi city of Hadita reportedly at a U.S.
landing strip. They added that Israeli planes were also detected at other
bases in Iraq and that those strips were being prepared as places to launch
an attack on Iran.

The Iraqi Defense Ministry denied that any such exercise was taking place
stating, "as the Ministry of Defense, we haven't observed any IAF warplanes
practicing in Iraqi airspace." The Israeli Defense Force also denied the
allegations saying they were "baseless."

The U.S. also denied the reports. "I find that report inconceivable and
clearly someone is either misinformed or intentionally trying to create
mischief," stated Bryan Whitman, a spokesman for The Pentagon.

[edit] Related news

* "Iran tests more missiles as war games continue". Wikinews, July 10,
2008

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[edit] Sources

* Reuters "Iraq dismisses air drills report". Windsor Star, July 12,
2008
* "Iraq denies reports of IAF using its airspace". The Jerusalem Post,
July, 11, 2008
* "Israeli warplanes practice in Iraq". InfoWars.com, July, 11, 2008

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