An Israeli stealth fighter jet has shot down a manned Iranian aircraft in a major show of force as the Islamic Republic continues to be blitzed five days into “Operation Epic Fury.”
The F-35I fighter jet known as “Adir,” which translates to “Mighty One” in Hebrew,” clashed with the Iranian Air Force YAK-130 over Tehran, Israeli military officials confirmed Wednesday.
It marked the first shootdown of a manned F-35I “Aidr” fighter jet in history, according to the Israeli Defense Forces.
The last time an Israeli fighter jet struck down another aircraft in manned air-to-air combat was on Nov. 24, 1985, during the “War of the Camps” in Lebanon, when an IAF F-15 downed two Syrian MiG-23 fighters, the Times of Israel reported.
Israel earlier confirmed that “broad-scale” strikes were underway in Tehran, and other cities are also being bombarded as part of the Israeli and US joint operation.
Forces targeted command centers used by Iranian security forces overnight, according to CNN.
The Israeli military targeted sites linked to the Basij – an Iranian paramilitary unit – and pummeled command centers by dropping dozens of munitions.
Israeli forces are reportedly prepared for a military campaign that last weeks, but it’s unlikely there will be boots on the ground.
“We have prepared a general scope of weeks,” Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told reporters.
Shoshani described the idea of boots on the ground as “not a practical idea at the moment.”
The military onslaught comes after it was reported that a suspected Iranian drone hit the US embassy in Riyadh on Monday.
A CIA station was targeted, two sources told the Washington Post.
The US and Saudi Governments have both confirmed the embassy was targeted, but neither has spoken out about the CIA post being hit.
Embassy staffers were told to shelter in place, and the embassy suffered “structural damage,” according to a State Department memo sent out.
The US consulate in Dubai came under fire from a drone attack, which sparked a parking lot blaze.
No injuries were reported and the fire was contained, Dubai government officials confirmed.
More than 50,000 American troops have been deployed as part of the US’ Operation Epic Fury, which has already eliminated 2,000 targets, according to US Navy Adm. Brad Cooper
“By order of the president of the United States and secretary of war, our military in the Middle East has undertaken an unprecedented operation to eliminate Iran’s ability to threaten Americans as they’ve been doing nearly half a century,” Cooper said in a video posted to X on Tuesday.
The US has deployed more than 50,000 troops along with 200 fighter jets, two aircraft carriers and an undisclosed number of bombers since “Operation Epic Fury” started on Saturday.
“These forces bring a massive amount of firepower, representing the largest buildup by the US in the Middle East in a generation,” Cooper said.
Israeli troops have been sent into southern Lebanon and have been stationed close to the border.
Strikes in Beirut and in a residential complex in the east of the country have left at least 11 dead.
With Post wires
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