
The Israel Air Force held a major drill Thursday simulating a war between  Israel and Arab states and terrorist groups. As part of the drill, the air force  tested readiness against attacks, including rockets and missiles targeting the  home front from multiple directions. 
Even though the plan was not  substantively different from drills in previous years, it drew international  media attention because of recent developments in Iran's nuclear program and  Iran's test-firing Wednesday of a ballistic missile with an estimated  2,000-kilometer range - which would put Israel within reach. 
Most air  force squadrons participated in the drill, including interceptors, attack  aircraft, helicopters, transport and refueling aircraft, the air defense system  and air force intelligence. The drill also involved ground forces. 
The  scenario being tested, most of whose details remain classified, involved  fighting on multiple fronts: against Hamas and Hezbollah, but also Syria and  Iran to some degree. 
Unlike the summer 2008 drill, which the New York  Times reported involved a test flight for a long range attack on Iran, carried  out in Greek airspace, there was nothing of the sort this time. 
Defense  Minister Ehud Barak said on Thursday that the drill "was a very important one.  What we witnessed bolsters our confidence that we have people we can rely  on." 
The air force drill is part of broad Israeli preparations for a  potential regional war, including attacks by Iran, or a conflict limited to the  northern front - Lebanon and Syria.