The Israeli Air Force has joined the international exercises Iniohos 2025, which are taking place in Greece from March 25 to April 5. This year, the maneuvers have reached a record scale: in addition to the hosts, 12 countries are participating in them, including Qatar, which joined for the first time, as well as the United States, France, India, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates. Cyprus is providing support staff, while Slovakia and Bahrain have sent observers.
The Iniohos ("Horse") exercises traditionally focus on practicing joint operations in high-intensity conditions, including aerial combat, interceptions, and anti-air defense tactics. In 2025, the focus is on integrating fifth-generation fighter aircraft and coordinating multinational squadrons. Israel deployed its F-15I Ra'am, which had previously participated in similar maneuvers with Germany and the United States.
Greece and Israel have been actively cooperating in the military sphere since 2017, when the Air Forces of both countries participated for the first time in Iniohos together with Arab states, including the UAE. In 2025, Qatar's participation and the strengthening of the role of the Persian Gulf countries signal the expansion of the Middle East military bloc. In addition, for the first time, KC-390 tankers from Brazil are involved in the exercises, which increases the realism of the scenarios.
Experts attribute the scale of Iniohos 2025 to rising tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. The participation of Qatar and the UAE indicates the desire of these countries to strengthen ties with NATO through cooperation with Greece and Israel. At the same time, the exercises demonstrate unity in countering threats such as Iran and extremist groups.
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