Israeli occupation receives F-35 fighter jets as part of ongoing US military support
SANAA, Jan. 18 (YPA) – In the context of the ongoing US military support to the Israeli occupation, the Israeli air force received on Sunday three new F-35I “Adair” fighters.
The deal came as part of a long-term deal aimed at completing the formation of two full squadrons of this advanced model and enhancing Israeli air capabilities in the region.
With the addition of this batch, the number of F-35 fighters in service with the occupation will increase to 48 aircraft, with two additional aircraft to arrive next summer. The occupation has also submitted an official request for a third squadron, the first of which is expected to arrive in early 2028, as part of a phased expansion plan for the air force.
The newspaper “Maariv”, citing military sources, reported that the fighters took off from the American city of Dallas over the weekend, and stopped at an air base in the United Kingdom, before continuing their flight to Nevatim Air Base in the Negev desert.
The sources added that American pilots took command of the aircraft during the flight, and it was to be officially handed over to the Israeli Air Force after landing.
For its part, the occupation army announced that the aircraft would not enter operational service immediately, as they would undergo a series of checks and tests related to the Israeli special systems, procedures that may take several weeks before declaring their full readiness.
The delivery of these warplanes comes in light of an unprecedented escalation in the level of US military support to Israeli occupation since the beginning of the aggression on Gaza in October 2023, when Washington provided billions of dollars in direct military assistance, including precision munitions, missiles for air defense systems, spare parts, in addition to accelerating the implementation of arms deals scheduled for later deadlines.
According to Israeli estimates, the volume of the US support over the past two years has exceeded 20 billion dollars, outside the framework of fixed annual military assistance of 3.8 billion dollars, reflecting the transition of support from a traditional strategic partnership to direct military support in the context of the war.
This deal is part of long-standing memoranda of understanding between Washington and “Israel”, aimed at maintaining what is known as“qualitative military edge” in the region.
According to official US data, the United States has provided the occupation with an estimated 186 billion dollars in aid since 1948, rising to about 310 billion dollars after accounting for inflation, making it the largest recipient of US aid outside the United States.
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