[VIDEO AND PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday 13 Menachem Av), accompanied by IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Yair Golan and Air Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Amir Eshel, visited the Tel Nof air force base.

Prime Minister Netanyahu first met with Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and later received a security briefing from Maj.-Gen. Eshel on the challenges facing the air force. The Prime Minister toured an exhibition that included F-16’s, Boeing 707’s, Gulfstream-5’s, Apache attack helicopters, Sikorsky CH-53 heavy transport helicopters, remote-controlled UAVs and an Iron Dome battery.

At the conclusion of the tour, Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “I visited the air force today along with the Defense Minister and Air Force Commander. I met senior air force commanders who command the best pilots, ground crews, air defense crews and anti-missile crews we have. I saw here outstanding people and breath-taking developments.

“There is no air force better than ours. When I send it to carry out its missions, it goes anywhere, anytime, on any mission and this is true even as we speak.

“I think that the citizens of Israel need to know that they have who to rely on. I salute the air force and I salute the State of Israel that has these soldiers, commanders, men and women, who safeguard the security of the country. Thank you Air Force Commander, thank you all.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos: עמוס בן גרשום, לע”מ via Media Resource Group)