Aircraft
Israel Flies First F-35 Combat Missions
But strikes against Iranian targets in Syria were not opposed by Russian air defenses based there.
A pair of Israeli F-35s (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
A pair of Israeli F-35s (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

Last week’s news that Israel has flown operational missions with its F-35A "Adir" stealth fighters over Syria and Lebanon has been followed by media reports that Russia has agreed not to use its Syria-based air defense systems to engage Israeli warplanes that attack Iranian targets in Syria. In recent weeks, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) has attacked long-range missiles and rockets that Iran has placed in Syria to fire on Israeli territory. Two of these missions were flown by F-35s, according to IAF commander Maj Gen Amikam Norkin.