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Israeli Air Force chief reveals operational capability

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Israel is the first country to use F-35 stealth fighter jets in combat, the country’s Air Force chief said on Tuesday.

Israel Air Force (IAF) Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin was talking to senior officers from air forces around the world, including  the US, UK, Germany, Italy, India and Brazil at a conference in Herzliya.

Norkin told delegates that Israel had deployed F-35 jets twice in attacks in the region, although he made clear that that they did not take part in the retaliatory strike against Iranian and Iranian-backed forces in Syria on 10 May 2018.

“We are continuing to maintain our freedom of action in the region. We are acting to disrupt and prevent [possible attacks] while keeping the situation below the threshold of war,” Norkin said.

“We are continuing with our operational mission against the arming of Hezbollah and Iranian moves to establish themselves in Syria. As far as we are concerned, anywhere we identify consolidation [of Iranian forces] or the introduction of weapons, we act. Our success is any move that serves the goals of the government leadership, this is our mission,” the Maj. Gen emphasised.

Norkin displayed a photograph of an Israeli F-35 overflying Beirut, in what was an unusual public acknowledgment about sensitive military activities. Israel routinely flies over Lebanese airspace as part of its intelligence gathering and monitoring of Hezbollah.

Norkin also spoke about Israel’s multi-layered air defence systems, which include the Arrow, David’s Sling and Iron Dome. He told the delegates that the Israeli military’s anti-missile system has an 85 per cent success rate.

Israeli analysts believe that the presentation was intended to highlight its achievements, but to also act as a warning to Iran, following an increase in the number of incidents within Syria.

Israel declared that it had reached initial F-35 operational capability in December 2017. At that time, the 140 Squadron, the only squadron flying the aircraft, had nine F-35s and another six scheduled to arrive at an unspecified time in 2018. The IAF reportedly wants to build another F-35 squadron to increase its number from 50 to 75.