An Israeli military spokesman described as "utterly baseless" media reports on Friday about Israel Air Force warplanes secretly training in U.S.-controlled Iraq for possible attacks on Iran. The Baghdad government and the Pentagon similarly dismissed a report quoting an Iraqi news network, that Israeli jets were practicing in Iraqi airspace and landing on U.S. airbases in the country.

Issuing an official denial, the Israeli spokesman said: "Reports about putative IAF activities in Iraq are utterly baseless."

Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman Major-General Mohammad al-Askari conveyed to Reuters: "We haven't observed any IAF warplanes practicing in Iraqi airspace.

The report referred to an airbase in western Anbar province near the town of Haditha. The airbase is controlled by the U.S. military.

The Pentagon also dismissed the report. "I find that report inconceivable, and clearly someone is either misinformed or intentionally trying to create mischief," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.

© 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)