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January 7, 2005

IAF scrambles jets as Egypt's airliners violate airspace

Topics: Middle East News and Perspectives

Have you ever heard of a nation being attacked by an airliner? I guess Sept 11 has made everyone a little skittish about unauthorized flights by aircraft.

Jerusalem Post Jan 7
Unauthorized Egyptian passenger aircraft have been increasingly violating Israel's airspace near Eilat, prompting the IAF to station Hawk anti-aircraft missile batteries and fighter planes close by, ready to shoot down the Egyptian planes if they take a hostile turn. In several cases, fighter jets have actually been scrambled, then returning quietly to base.

The beefed-up air defense is also there to deal with potential attacks by Saudi Arabian F-15s, deployed at the Tobuq air base just 200 kilometers away despite Israeli protests. Israel has received intelligence that al-Qaida has recruited Saudi fighter pilots and fears they could stage a 9/11-type surprise attack.    Read more...

Posted by Hyscience at January 7, 2005 7:29 AM

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