RAPID DEPLOYMENT: Israel First to Use F-35 Jet in Combat. “We are flying the F-35 all over the Middle East.”

“We are the first to attack using the F-35 in the Middle East and have already attacked twice on different fronts,” Maj.-Gen. Amikam Norkin said during the IAF Senior Air Force Conference in Herzilya.

Norkin made the comments while showing a picture of one Israeli F-35 flying over the Lebanese capital of Beirut during the day. He did not mention when the picture was taken.

Israel declared initial operational capability of the world’s most advanced jet in December after receiving nine F-35s. The Air Force is expected to receive a total of 50 planes to make two full squadrons by 2024.

Israel had previously scored at least one nearly spooky success against Syria’s Russian-made antiaircraft defenses without the use of stealth aircraft. Deploying the F-35 puts even fewer lives at risk.