Israel deployed female fighter pilots as part of its air force squadron that conducted retaliatory strikes against Iranian military sites early Saturday, marking the first time Israel has openly attacked Iran on its territory, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported.
Among those who took part in Israel's retaliatory strike on Iran last night were four female F-16 combat navigators.
The IDF's strength lies in its diversity—men and women from all backgrounds serving side by side.
As a father of three girls, I couldn't be prouder! pic.twitter.com/VGxt4GD8Ap
— Yaki Lopez
(@YakiLopez) October 26, 2024
The IDF released footage showing F-15 and F-16 fighter jets departing for their mission over Iran. The imagery highlighted the four female navigators from Israeli Air Force squadrons who took part in the historic operation. Military officials revealed that the mission, which covered a distance of approximately 1,600 kilometers from Israel, involved numerous IAF aircraft, including fighter jets, aerial refueling tankers, and reconnaissance planes.
Before the mission began, air force commanders addressed the pilots in a recorded briefing, which was later released alongside the operational footage. "This historic act you have accomplished tonight is now a reality. No enemy is too far away for us to reach," the commander tells the assembled aircrews.
The Israeli military said it struck facilities used by Iran to manufacture missiles, as well as surface-to-air missile sites. The operation was conducted in response to Iran's missile barrage earlier this month.
The pre-dawn operation targeted military facilities in three Iranian provinces – Ilam, Khuzestan, and Tehran – killing four Iranian air defense troops, according to Iran's Al-Alam television.
"Our message is clear: anyone who threatens the State of Israel and strives to drag the region into a wider escalation will pay a heavy price," IDF spokesman Brigadier General Daniel Hagar said. "We proved today that we have the ability to act decisively."
US President Joe Biden, who received advance notice of the operation, expressed hope that the escalation would end here. "It looks like they didn't hit anything other than military targets. My hope is this is the end," Biden told reporters in Philadelphia, according to CNN.
Several Middle Eastern nations, including Qatar, Jordan, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, condemned the Israeli airstrikes and called for de-escalation to prevent catastrophic regional consequences.
Iran's Foreign Ministry asserted its right to self-defense, stating it "considers itself entitled and obligated to defend against foreign acts of aggression." Explosions were heard in Tehran until sunrise, though Iran said the attacks caused "limited damage."
