JERUSALEM, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The three-day international convention for air force commanders, starting from Tuesday, is being held in Israel with the aim of strengthening partnerships among the participating countries.
Around 20 different countries have participated in the event, IAF Senior Air Force Conference 2018, which was hosted by the Israeli Air Force (IAF), including lectures, strategic discussions and joint aerial training. The event is one of the most important events celebrating 70 years since the establishment of the State of Israel and of the IAF.
"We are determined to roll back Iran's aggression. We will not let Iran establish military bases in Syria and we will not let Iran develop nuclear weapons," said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the second day of the convention held at Tel-Nof Air Base in central Israel. "The Israeli Air Force plays a crucial role in implementing this policy and it has done so consistently and effectively now for the past several years," he added.
Netanyahu appreciated the "strong leadership" of U.S. President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's 12-point plan to block Iran's aggression. "I can tell you with confidence that the appreciation that I just expressed is shared, broadly shared, by many others in the Middle East."
"This is not just an Israeli position. I hope that this clear American message was well understood in Tehran. And like the United States, we in Israel have no quarrel with the people of Iran," noted Netanyahu.
A joint training flight was conducted Wednesday at the base. An air force exhibition was then held, where an array of the IAF's aircraft were presented, such as the F-15 "Baz," F-16 "Sufa," F-16 "Barak," C-130J "Shimshon," G500 "Shavit," CH-53 "Yasur," UH-60 "Yanshuf," AH-64 "Saraf," IAI "Eitan" and Hermes 450. Various aerial defense systems and Israeli defense technologies were also being exhibited.
"This conference is a celebration of Israel's 70th anniversary and the global partnerships with many air forces from around the world. Commanders come here to support the IAF and Israel," Brig. Gen. Yaron Rosen told journalists at the base.
Rosen said that the IAF is proud of the air force culture and the way of operating in the region and learning lessons from many operations.
The event opened a window to all of these commanders from around the world, Rosen said, adding that it was a "great opportunity to show Israel at its best, and (show how) the IAF ... will keep on working and operating in this region, detouring enemies and defending Israel and its citizens."
The IAF Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin, together with his partners, Lt. Gen. Enzo Vecciarelli, Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, and Air Marshal Stuart Atha, Deputy Commander of the Royal Air Force of Britain, met journalists at the base after they finished a "wonderful" flight along the Israeli skies.
Norkin said that they exchanged operational knowledge at the convention and talked about how to build air superiority as a bridge to regional stability.
Vecciarelli said they shared experiences among professionals. Atha said it was an opportunity to recognize what they were doing day to day as air forces and it was important to look to the future and continue to work together.
"We are flying the F-35 all over the Middle East. It had become part of our operational capabilities. We are the first to attack using the F-35 in the Middle East and have already attacked twice on different fronts," said Norkin Tuesday during the first of the convention held at the IAF Center in Herzliya, east coastal city of Israel.
Norkin also noted Tuesday that Iran launched 32 missiles toward Israeli military positions on the Golan Heights on May 10, and Israel intercepted four of them and the rest fell outside Israeli territory.
In response to the attack conducted by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp's Quds Force from southern Syria, the Israeli fighters struck dozens of Iranian military targets in Syria.
The IAF said senior officials will spend the final day of the convention in Jerusalem beginning with a tour of Har Hatayasim (Pilot's Mountain). Following the tour, they will meet the Israeli President Reuven Rivlin at his residence in Jerusalem.
