An Israeli F-35 fighter jet shot down an Iranian YAK-130 aircraft over Tehran on Wednesday. The incident marks the first time an F-35 has taken out a manned fighter in combat, according to reports from dailymail.co.uk, foxnews.com, and other outlets.
Key Takeaways
An Israeli F-35 fighter jet shot down an Iranian YAK-130 aircraft over Tehran, marking the first time an F-35 has taken out a manned fighter. The incident occurred amid ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Iranian retaliatory attacks.
- Israeli F-35 shoots down Iranian YAK-130 jet in Tehran skies
- First confirmed air-to-air kill by an F-35, marking a historic military achievement for Israel
- Ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran intensifies with multiple strikes and retaliatory actions
The Israeli military confirmed that one of its 'Adir' F-35i fighter jets took down the piloted Iranian jet. This is also believed to be the first time in four decades that the Israeli air force has conducted an air-to-air kill since 1985, when an Israeli F-15 shot down two Syrian MiG-23s over Lebanon during the 'War of the Camps'.
The shootdown occurred on the fifth day of the war between Israel and Iran. The US and Israel have been conducting airstrikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities, with residents reporting dawn blasts and state television showing ruins of buildings in central Tehran. Multiple other cities, including the Shiite seminary city of Qom, were also targeted.
The tempo of strikes was reportedly so intense that authorities postponed the mourning ceremony for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the conflict. Iran claimed that US-Israeli attacks have so far killed 1,045 people, though this figure has not been independently verified.
Meanwhile, Turkey's Defence Ministry reported that NATO defences intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran before it entered Turkish airspace. Additionally, an Iranian naval frigate was reportedly in distress off the coast of Sri Lanka, prompting authorities there to rescue 32 people. The US military stated it had already destroyed 17 Iranian vessels and aimed to sink 'the entire navy'.
The conflict has led to a significant rise in Brent crude prices due to Iran's stranglehold on tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz, which is critical for global oil supplies. Prices hit $84 a barrel, up more than 15% since the start of the conflict.
Global stock markets have been impacted by concerns over rising oil prices and their potential effect on the world economy and corporate profits. Iran has also targeted regional infrastructure, including Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura oil refinery, one of the largest in the world.
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