Brigadier General Ghasem Mohammad Amini, an acting deputy commander of air force, was quoted as saying that his troops "are at the highest level of preparedness possible".

He pointed out that Iran's air force defended the country during its eight-year war against Iraq in the 1980s and gained "valuable experiences".

"Considering the valuable experiences we have gained during the imposed war on Iran, we have increased our military capabilities and we are now fully prepared to defend the country's borders," Amini vowed.

The air force officer held that Israel's intensive air and ground operations in Lebanon proved that skillful manpower played a determining role on the battlefields.

"Despite Israel's extensive military possibilities and equipment, we are now witnessing how Hezbollah troops have managed to defeat them while the Shiite combatants have the least military tools, equipment and technology," Amini said.

Violence between Israel and Hezbollah erupted on July 12 in the wake of the abduction of two Israeli soldiers by the Lebanese guerrilla group in a cross-border raid.

Israel has recently stepped up military operations in Lebanon as the Hezbollah guerillas have intensified rocket attacks against the Jewish state.

Some observers believe that it is still possible that Israel would attack Iranian targets for Tehran's alleged extensive support for the Lebanese Shiite militia group as well as its suspicious nuclear programs.