The Israeli Air Force is taking part in Greece’s annual multinational Iniochos 25 air drill, which this year includes an unusual participant: Qatar, widely regarded as a key financial backer of Hamas.
Israel dispatched just one aircraft to the exercise — the Oron (based on Gulfstream's G550 business jet airframe), its newest and most advanced intelligence-gathering jet, operated by the Nachshon Squadron.
Greece’s annual multinational Iniochos 25 air drill featuring Israel and Qatar
Qatar is participating with F-15 fighter jets, while the United Arab Emirates deployed Mirage 2000 aircraft.
Though host country Greece typically avoids publicizing the involvement of Arab nations in such drills, this year it made a rare move by openly naming both Qatar and the UAE among the participants.
Other countries taking part in Iniochos 25 include the United States with F-16 fighters and KC-135 and KC-46 refueling aircraft, France with Mirage 2000 fighters, India with Su-30 fighters, Italy with Tornado fighters, Slovenia with PC-9 fighters, Spain with F-18 fighters and Greece with various aircraft as host nation.
Israel had skipped the last two editions of the drill — in 2023 reportedly due to tensions with Turkey, and in 2024 because of the ongoing war in Gaza. Prior to that, Israeli participation was consistent, including the deployment of F-16I fighter jets in both 2021 and 2022.
Both men remain in custody and are expected to appear before a Rishon Lezion court on Tuesday for a remand hearing.
