The Israel Air Force is planning to participate in aerial exercises in the US and Europe in the coming months.

It is believed pilots will be trained for long-range flights as a precautionary measure against possible Iranian attacks and in test-runs for potential strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

IAF planes will take part in a joint aerial exercise with NATO forces in Europe and the US.

On Sunday, US Vice-President, Joe Biden, told ABC television the US would not stand in the way militarily if the Israelis decided they needed to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities.

He said: “The US cannot dictate to another sovereign nation what they can and cannot do. Israel can determine for itself – it’s a sovereign nation – what’s in their interest and what they decide to do relative to Iran and anyone else.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he would prefer to see Iran’s nuclear program stopped through diplomacy, but has not ruled out a military strike.