Israeli military exercise demonstrates its abilities to carry out an attack

U.S. military officials say a big Israeli military exercise was aimed partly at showing Jerusalem's abilities to attack Iranian nuclear facilities.

Two Pentagon officials say that Israel sent dozens of aircraft on a large-scale exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean early this month.

Israel's military is refusing to confirm or deny that the exercise was practice for a strike in Iran.

But one U.S. defense official said the maneuver could be taken as a demonstration to Iran and the international community that Israel is serious about the need to challenge Iran's nuclear program -- and could be prepared to do so militarily.

The U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the sensitive subject on the record.

Russia's foreign minister is warning against the use of force on Iran, saying there is no proof it is trying to build nuclear weapons with the program Tehran said is for generating power. (****)