Israeli Jets Fly Toward Iran’s Border and Turn Back

Dozens of Israeli fighter jets and refueling aircraft flew through Syrian and Iraqi airspace toward Iran’s border before turning back, in a sortie Israeli officials described as a military exercise and warning to Tehran. The flight covered more than 800 miles from Israel, according to officials cited in reporting on the operation. The aircraft approached the Iranian border and then returned without crossing it, according to those officials. The route resembled one that could be used in a strike on Iran. The operation took place earlier that week, with no exact calendar date established in the reporting. Israeli officials reportedly said Israel notified Washington in advance and characterized the flight as training intended to demonstrate its capabilities and discourage Iran from attacking. Some U.S. officials, however, said they believed Israel may have hoped Iran would fire on the aircraft. Another U.S. source described the maneuver as appearing designed to elicit an Iranian response. Those assessments were officials’ interpretations of possible intent, rather than confirmation of Israel’s purpose. Other officials reportedly played down the sortie as an exercise and...