Shea Levin — text status

Dozens of Israeli fighter jets, accompanied by aerial refueling aircraft, flew over Syria and Iraq overnight Monday into Tuesday, approaching extremely close to Iran's border in a flight resembling an attack mission before turning back to Israel, according to a Channel 12 report citing American sources. Israel notified Washington in advance, describing the mission as a deterrence exercise. However, American sources said they believed Israel may have hoped Iran would fire at the aircraft, providing justification for an Israeli attack on Iran.