(Japanese Version)

(Arabic Version)

May, 2022

East of Nakba (18)

 

Part I. Israel bombs a nuclear plant in Iran

 

Chapter 18. Operation code name ‘South of the Border’ (5)

 

One Bedouin shepherd boy was fascinated by three contrails trailing from west to east in blue sky. Soon another contrail appeared in the western sky. It was a splendid formation flight with two aircraft at the vanguard, three aircraft after that, and four at the end. The boy looked them like the attack line of football game. The nine jets caught up with the first three aircrafts. Finally, 12 aircrafts formed one large convoy. Then they were divided into three formations consisting of four aircrafts each. After that, two convoys of the left and right wing continued to fly in a zigzag manner. They gradually faded away. The remaining central convoy continued to fly straight and disappeared in the horizon of desert. That was a wonderful pageant. The boy looked up at the sky keeping his mouth open. He talked to himself:

 

< I have to talk to my parents and brothers as soon as I come back to the tent! >

 

Israeli F16 besieged by three Saudi F16s sometimes speeded up, sometimes soared, swooped, and turned. Israeli pilot tried to shake off enemies and join with the refueling planes. But Saudi jets remained to snug him persistently. Both fighters are exactly the same F16 made of Lockheed Martin in US. No matter how much the Israeli pilot made full use of their aerobatics, it was impossible to detach the Saudi Arabian jets because they were the same F-16 with same flight performance.

 

Israeli pilot also couldn’t shoot down Saudi jets because air-to-air missiles could only fly straight ahead. He couldn’t shoot down Saudi Arabian jets flying beside or behind him. On the contrary, Saudi Arabian jet just behind him was able to shoot down him easily and instantly. However, Saudi jets did not show any sign of attack. The three Saudi Arabian jets continued to fly without giving Israeli jet any order.

 

Israeli pilots gradually began to feel impatient in an indescribable sense of fear and intimidation. Repeated aerobatic flights to shake off the pursuit resulted in the consumption of fuel more than expected. Detached from the refueling aircraft, Israeli pilot drifted over the desert. Pilot couldn’t crash land in the Arabian desert where was the homeland of mortal enemy. Remaining fuel showed that it was a time to go back home. Two Israeli escort jets had only the option of returning to the base.

 

After confirming that the two escort jets reversed their steps, the Saudi Arabian pilot reported the operation headquarter the end of the operation.

 

"Two servants went home."

 

Six Saudi F-16s also headed to their own base.

 

(cont’d)

 

Areha Kazuya