DEBKAfile's military sources report that dozens of low-flying Israeli Air Force warplanes coasted over the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip for two hours Monday, Sept. 21 in a show of strength unparalleled since 100 IAF jets practiced long-distance flights in June 2008 against Russian-made S-300 anti-missile systems based in Greece.
The show of air strength, over Gaza City and the southern towns of Deir el Balakh, Khan Younes and Rafah ,was timed for prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu's departure for New York and defense minister Ehud Barak's arrival in Washington for talks with defense secretary Robert Gates.