WAR.WIRE
US planes near Israeli test area were in international airspace: Pentagon
 WASHINGTON (AFP) Mar 09, 2005
 US military aircraft flew near an area in the Mediterranean that Israel had closed for a missile test on March 1, but they were in international airspace and complied fully with airspace requirements, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

The weekly Defense News reported this week that the presence of a US Navy P-3 maritime patrol aircraft and a high-flying U-2 spy plane prompted the Israelis to postpone a test of its long-range artillery missile.

The publication quoted Israeli sources as saying that Israel made repeated requests to get the US military to move the planes from the area but finally decided to delay the test for two days.

"US military aircraft were in international Mediterranean airspace in the vicinity of the Israeli-declared closure area," the Pentagon said in a statement.

"The aircrew were in full compliance with airspace requirements surrounding the closure area and responded appropriately to Israel's communication efforts with them," it added.