Israeli fighter pilots trained with counterparts from Pakistan, UAE in Nellis exercise

Fighter pilots from the Israeli air force polished their combat skills last month in a Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base that also included aircraft from Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, even though the latter two countries don’t have diplomatic relations with the Jewish state, the Israeli air force acknowledged Thursday.

A spokesman for the Israeli air force told the Associated Press that the Aug. 15-26 exercise, which also included Spanish air force fighter jets, was the first time that Israeli fighter pilots had trained with Pakistani and Emirati pilots.

Maj. Gil of the Israeli air force, who gave only his first name according to military protocol, acknowledged that the simulated air combat featured an “odd group,” but said that Pakistani and Emirati pilots worked with Israeli pilots “in an utmost professional way.”

He added that the exercises did not simulate any real world threats.

A U.S. military contractor’s jet and a Pave Hawk rescue helicopter from Nellis crashed in separate incidents during the exercise, but no crew members were seriously injured.