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Last update - 20:57 11/07/2008 Israel denies reports of IAF training in U.S.-controlled Iraq By Reuters Tags: Iraq, U.S., IAF, Israel An Israel Defense Forces spokesman described as "utterly baseless" media reports on Friday about Israel Air Force warplanes secretly training in U.S.-controlled Iraq for possible attacks on neighbouring Iran. The Baghdad government and the Pentagon similarly played down a report quoting an Iraqi news network, that Israeli jets were practicing in Iraqi airspace and landing on U.S. airbases in the country. Issuing an official denial, the IDF spokesman said: "Reports about putative IAF activities in Iraq are utterly baseless." Advertisement Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman Major-General Mohammad al-Askari said: "We haven't observed any IAF warplanes practicing in Iraqi airspace." Recent months have seen a flurry of high-level contacts between Israel and the United States, which accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran denies the charge. The talks have stoked global speculation that the allies are planning preemptive military strikes, though both say they support continued UN Security Council sanctions designed to deny the Iranians atomic technology with bomb-making potential. Iran this week test-fired several missiles it said were capable of reaching Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East. The United States has reminded Tehran it was ready to defend its allies. The escalating tension helped to push oil prices to a new record high of near $147 a barrel on Friday. Iran is the world's fourth-largest oil exporter and there are fears of supply disruptions in the event of conflict. The report referred to an airbase in western Anbar province near the town of Haditha. The airbase is controlled by the U.S. military. Security for Anbar is still formally in the hands of the U.S. military, although control is expected to be transferred to Iraqi security forces soon. Iraq has security control over nine of its 18 provinces. While Iraq has a large army and police force, its airforce is still very small. The Pentagon dismissed the report. "I find that report inconceivable, and clearly someone is either misinformed or intentionally trying to create mischief," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. Related articles: Arab state tells Israel it won't oppose Iran strike Defense Minister Barak: Israel isn't afraid to take action against Iran (2006) Iran test fires missiles said to be capable of hitting Israel Bookmark to del.icio.us   History undersea Israeli lifeguard stumbles upon ancient relic during morning swim. Elections, Hebrew style U.S. presidential hopefuls use Hebrew to woo the Jewish community.   1.   wake up, mullahs: you`ll disarm or you`ll fry. 21:34  |  hiroshima tehran 11/07/08   2.   Israel is still the best soap opera on the internet 21:46  |  Wendy 11/07/08   3.   Build oil free cars 22:18  |  Great White North 11/07/08   4.   Dumbest Conceivable Concept 22:47  |  Mark of Lewiston 11/07/08   5.   Oil speculators - the scum of the earth - are at work 23:31  |  Clickfool 11/07/08   6.   "in U.S.-controlled Iraq " 00:33  |  Axel 12/07/08   7.   Israel is in Iraq...NO DOUBT...BUT Iran is .. 00:46  |  ali 12/07/08   8.   The SHEITES are ONE...IRAQI..IRANI..th e same.. 03:36  |  ali 12/07/08   9.   Hope IAF is in Iraq makes it a much shorter flight to Tehran 06:24  |  Dish It Out 12/07/08   10.   I KNOW THERE IS A WAR COMING 08:04  |  VIPER 12/07/08   11.   Let`s not play word games 09:08  |  Jim 12/07/08   12.   #5 Clickfool 09:19  |  Jim 12/07/08   13.   Ali @ Villanova - I Don`t Think So 09:28  |  Mark of Lewiston 12/07/08   14.   #10 Viper 15:23  |  Moshe 12/07/08   15.   Baloney! US Holding Israel Back! Use The Neutron Bomb Already! 08:36  |  Ethan 13/07/08   16.   #14 MOSHE and who started it all? 12:45  |  VIPER 13/07/08

Read & React Obama: I used 'poor phrasing' in undivided Jerusalem remark Responses: 142 Syria sources to Haaretz: We'll grant no goodwill gestures to weak Olmert Responses: 40 Syria's Assad: Israel will pay a direct price for attacking Iran Responses: 41 Was building city of Modi'in a mistake? Responses: 31 Rosner's Domain So, was Obama flip flopping on Iraq? (WTR) Attacking Iran to get the world's attention? U.S. pressures Israel: No bombing of Iran (WTR) On Iraq, Obama draws to the ground of reality More Headlines 17:42 Barak: UN resolution on Lebanon war is a failure 19:13 Labor votes 'no confidence' in government after political row 18:20 Hamas spokesman says Tony Blair to visit Gaza this week 18:09 IN PICTURES / How Olmert and Assad dodged unwanted Paris handshake 19:44 Noam Shalit: Don't free Palestinians while my son still held in Gaza 14:08 Iran decries contacts between Syria and 'illegitimate' Israel 13:47 Syria's Assad: Israel will pay a direct price for attacking Iran 17:43 New film tells tale of Palestinian killed in error by IDF who went on to save Israeli lives 19:28 VIDEO: American women pack up their lives, move to Israel for love 17:18 Knesset panel okays bill to revoke terrorists' citizenship 14:34 Ahead of Mideast trip, Obama backtracks on 'undivided' Jerusalem 11:40 ANALYSIS / At Paris summit, Assad has all the answers to Mideast conflict 16:34 Flying abroad this summer? You may have to pay for airplane food 14:45 Mark Twain and Ariel Sharon shared the same roof in Jerusalem Previous Editions Select Day 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul 01 jul 30 jun

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