Pentagon, CENTCOM Says Media Reports That US Refueling Aircraft Participated In Israel Iran-Strike Drill Inaccurate

The Pentagon and CENTCOM have both stated that media reports that had reported that U.S. refueling aircraft participated in Israel's "Chariots Of Fire" exercises were inaccurate, according to a CENTCOM spokesperson.

The Israeli Chariots Of Fire exercise, which media reports have claimed U.S military involvement in, simulated a widescale strike on Iran, where the Israeli Air Force carried out a simulation of an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.

CENTCOM spokesperson Colonel Joe Buccino said that a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker had carried out a "dry refueling mission" with U.S. and Israeli jets, but that it was "not tied to" Israel's "Chariots of Fire" military exercise.

Buccino said that the fuel tankers simulated refueling two U.S. F-15s and four Israeli F-16s and that the timing was purely coincidental, saying "There is no direct U.S. military involvement in that exercise".

Pentagon spokesman Major Rob Lodewick also denied that the Department of Defense was "directly participating" in the Chariots of Fire exercise.

"A small number of personnel from across U.S. Central Command are observing portions of the exercise" Lodewick stated.
 

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