An Israeli Air Force F-35I fighter jet shot down a Russian-made Iranian Yak-130 fighter jet over Tehran on Wednesday, the IDF said.
The incident also marked the first time in about 40 years that the Israeli Air Force engaged in air-to-air combat with manned aircraft, the Telegraph reports.
The last time Israeli air force planes shot down a manned enemy aircraft was on November 24, 1985, over Lebanon. In that incident, an IAF F-15 shot down two Syrian MiG-23 fighter jets.
In an audio recording released by the military, IAF chief Major General Tomer Bar told the F-35I pilot that his actions were "historic."
"The historic interception over the skies of Tehran is an expression of the power of the air force and your personal determination. The next mission is already waiting for you," said Barr.
Speaking to reporters, the commander of Nevatim Air Base — where the IAF's F-35 jets are based — said: "We identified the plane, stopped it and launched [a missile]."
“The Iranian plane endangered [our] plane. It could have hit our plane, so we shot it down,” said Brigadier General “Daled,” — identified only by his rank and initials in Hebrew.
The air base commander said the F-35 shot down the missile while it was targeting Iranian regime sites in Tehran. He said the F-35 “knows how to do this very quickly and accurately.”
The pilot who shot down the Iranian plane was relatively new to the force, according to the air base commander, although he said this was not his first flight to Iran.
Footage posted on social media purportedly shows the plane crashing over the Lavasan Mountains, just north of Tehran.
"The Iranian plane endangered [our] plane. It could have hit our plane, so we shot it down," said Brigadier General "Daled," identified only by his rank and initials in Hebrew.
The air base commander said the F-35 fired the missile while it was in the middle of targeting Iranian regime sites in Tehran. He said the F-35 “knows how to do this very quickly and accurately.” /Telegraph
