Editing Israeli Air Force (section)

===Syrian Civil War===
{{See also|Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line incidents during the Syrian Civil War|History of the Israeli Air Force}}
[[File:F-35I - Air Force Fly By on Tel Aviv Beach 2019 IMG 3716.JPG|thumb|The [[F-35I Adir]] recorded its first operational strike, targeting Iranian military facilities in [[Syria]] during 2018's clashes. The F-35I also recorded the first operational shoot down for the F-35, intercepting two [[Iran]]ian [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|drones]] in 2021.]]
The [[Syrian Civil War|civil war]] raging within Israel's northern neighbor, has occasionally witnessed activity by the IAF, some overt, some unacknowledged and some merely attributed. Notable actions include:
* The downing of a Syrian Air Force [[Sukhoi Su-24]] on September 23, 2014: The aircraft was shot down by an IAF [[MIM-104 Patriot]] air defense battery, after allegedly crossing the Syrian-Israeli ceasefire line during a ground attack mission against Syrian opposition forces.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4574214,00.html|last=Raved|first=Ahiya|title=IDF: Syrian fighter jet shot down over Golan|date=23 September 2014|work=ynet.co.il|access-date=September 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924065942/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4574214,00.html|archive-date=September 24, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On August 20 and 21, 2015, after four rockets hit the Golan Heights and Upper Galilee, Israel launched [[August 2015 Israel–Syria border incident|airstrikes]] in Syria, killing several militants.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4693080,00.html|title=IAF strikes in Syria, kills rocket launchers|work=Ynet News|date=August 21, 2015|access-date=August 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821234020/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4693080,00.html|archive-date=August 21, 2015|url-status=live|last1=Zitun|first1=Yoav|last2=Kais|first2=Roi}}</ref>
* The [[March 2017 Israeli airstrikes in Syria]]: On March 17, 2017, Israeli jet fighters attacked targets in Syria. Several [[S-200 (missile)|S-200]] missiles were fired at the jets, and one missile was shot down by an [[Arrow (Israeli missile)|Arrow 2 missile]]; no aircraft were damaged.<ref name="Hezbollah">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/17/middleeast/israel-jets-syria-strikes/index.html|title=Israeli jets strike inside Syria; evade anti-aircraft missiles|author1=Oren Liebermann |author1-link=Oren Liebermann |author2=Euan McKirdy|website=CNN|date=March 17, 2017|access-date=2017-03-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317185821/http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/17/middleeast/israel-jets-syria-strikes/index.html|archive-date=March 17, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4936768,00.html|title=סוריה: "4 מטוסים תקפו מוצב צבאי. תהיה תגובה ישירה"|date=2017-03-17|work=Ynet|access-date=2017-03-17|language=he|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317152707/http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4936768,00.html|archive-date=March 17, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name = firstuse>{{cite web | url = http://www.defensenews.com/articles/israels-arrow-scores-first-operational-hit-but-against-what | work = [[Defense News]] | title = Israel's Arrow scores first operational hit — but against what? | first = Barbara | last = Opall-Rome | date = 2017-03-17 | access-date = 2017-03-17 | archive-date = February 20, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230220163902/https://www.defensenews.com/land/2017/03/17/israels-arrow-scores-first-operational-hit-but-against-what/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name = firstuse2>{{cite web | url = http://www.defensenews.com/articles/israel-explains-arrow-intercept-of-syrian-sam | work = [[Defense News]] | title = Israel explains Arrow intercept of Syrian SAM | first = Barbara | last = Opall-Rome | date = 2017-03-20 | access-date = 2017-03-20 | archive-date = February 20, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230220164144/https://www.defensenews.com/land/2017/03/20/israel-explains-arrow-intercept-of-syrian-sam/ | url-status = live }}</ref> The incident was the first clearly confirmed Israeli strike on Syrian territory during the [[Syrian Civil War]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/IDF-denies-claim-that-Syria-shot-down-Israeli-jet-484465|title=IDF denies claim that Syria shot down Israeli jet|work=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com|access-date=2017-03-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317151325/http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/IDF-denies-claim-that-Syria-shot-down-Israeli-jet-484465|archive-date=March 17, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On February 10, 2018, an Israeli AH-64 [[February 2018 Israel–Syria incident|shot down]] an Iranian drone that entered Israel. 4 Israeli F-16's launched a strike into Syria while remaining in Israeli airspace, reportedly to strike Iranian drone control facilities, conducting a cross-border raid. One of the F-16s was shot down by Syrian surface to air missiles and crashed in northern Israel, the first Israeli jet to be shot down in combat since 1982. Both pilots managed to eject in Israeli territory. The pilots were injured but walked out of hospital around a week later.<ref>
[https://www.timesofisrael.com/critically-wounded-pilot-downed-in-syria-strike-walks-out-of-hospital Critically wounded pilot downed in Syria strike walks out of hospital] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308165527/https://www.timesofisrael.com/critically-wounded-pilot-downed-in-syria-strike-walks-out-of-hospital/ |date=March 8, 2018 }} By TOI STAFF,
18 February 2018
</ref> Israel subsequently attacked Syrian air defenses and Iranian targets.<ref>[https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/israeli-jet-crashes-amid-syrian-air-strikes-w7nb9fkjb Israeli jet crashes under fire on Syrian border], The Times, 10 Feb 2018</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/LTCJonathan/status/962435411862802432|title=Jonathan Conricus on Twitter|access-date=February 11, 2018|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109043209/https://twitter.com/LTCJonathan/status/962435411862802432|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On May 10, 2018, after Iranian elite forces on the Syrian-held side of the Golan Heights fired around 20 rockets towards Israeli army positions without causing damage or injuries,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Shots-fired-towards-Israeli-communities-in-the-Golan-556017|title=Projectiles Fired Towards Israeli Forward Defensive Line in the Golan|newspaper=Jerusalem Post|date=10 May 2018|access-date=10 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510021308/https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Shots-fired-towards-Israeli-communities-in-the-Golan-556017|archive-date=May 10, 2018|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite news |last=Chamberlain |first=Samuel |date=9 May 2018 |title=Iran forces launch missiles at Israel from Syria, IDF says |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/israel-targets-iranian-forces-in-syria-after-rocket-attack-on-golan-heights |work=Fox News |access-date=9 May 2018 |agency=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510115308/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/05/09/iran-forces-launch-missiles-at-israel-from-syria-idf-says.html |archive-date=May 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Israel [[May 2018 Israel–Iran incidents|responded with rounds of rocket fire into Syria]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Syrian-state-media-repeated-rounds-of-Israeli-rockets-hit-Syria-556023|title=SYRIAN STATE MEDIA: REPEATED ROUNDS OF ISRAELI ROCKETS HIT SYRIA|newspaper=Jerusalem Post|date=10 May 2018|access-date=10 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510114844/https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Syrian-state-media-repeated-rounds-of-Israeli-rockets-hit-Syria-556023|archive-date=May 10, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The Israeli Air Force confirmed the strikes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iaf.org.il/4472-50171-en/IAF.aspx|title=Widescale Attack of Iranian Targets|publisher=IAF Official Website|date=10 May 2018|access-date=10 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511012902/http://www.iaf.org.il/4472-50171-en/IAF.aspx|archive-date=May 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Twenty-three fighters, among them 18 foreigners, were killed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/israel-launches-extensive-syria-strike-after-iranian-rocket-barrage-1.6073938|title=Israel Launches Most Extensive Strike in Syria in Decades After Iranian Rocket Barrage|newspaper=Haaretz|date=10 May 2018|access-date=10 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520165112/https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/israel-launches-extensive-syria-strike-after-iranian-rocket-barrage-1.6073938|archive-date=May 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> IAF commander [[Amikam Norkin]] said Israel used its [[F-35]] stealth fighters for the first time.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kubovich |first=Yaniv |date=22 May 2018 |title=Israel Is First Country in World to Carry Out 'Operational Attack' With the F-35 Stealth Fighter, Air Force Chief Says |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/iranians-fired-32-rockets-at-israel-during-flare-up-israeli-air-force-1.6110706 |agency=Haaretz |access-date=May 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522120431/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/iranians-fired-32-rockets-at-israel-during-flare-up-israeli-air-force-1.6110706 |archive-date=May 22, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* On September 17, 2018, Syrian media reported several [[Syria missile strikes (September 2018)|explosions over the city of Latakia]] after allegedly intercepting missiles fired from the Mediterranean Sea. Israel assumed responsibility for the attack on Latakia, following the shoot down of a Russian reconnaissance plane by Syrian air defense systems.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-rare-move-idf-admits-syria-strike-expresses-sorrow-over-russian-plane/|title=In rare move, IDF admits Syria strike, expresses sorrow over Russian plane|newspaper=The Times of Israel|date=18 September 2018|access-date=September 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919115950/https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-rare-move-idf-admits-syria-strike-expresses-sorrow-over-russian-plane/|archive-date=September 19, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> SANA news agency claimed ten people were injured by the Israeli attack.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/.premium-blasts-heard-in-syrian-port-city-lattakia-1.6489630|title='Israel Launches Series of Strikes on Targets Near Syria's Lattakia'|date=18 September 2018|newspaper=Haaretz|access-date=September 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918054346/https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/.premium-blasts-heard-in-syrian-port-city-lattakia-1.6489630|archive-date=September 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported two Syrian soldiers died,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=102779|title=Two soldiers killed in the violent missile attacks on the eastern outskirts of Latakia's suburbs|date=September 18, 2018|access-date=September 19, 2018|archive-date=March 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325214938/http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=102779|url-status=live}}</ref> while 113 Iranian soldiers have been killed during the past month as a result of Israeli strikes in Syria.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israeli-strikes-on-syria-killed-113-iranian-soldiers-1.6489386|title=Israeli Strikes on Syria Killed 113 Iranian Soldiers Over Past Month, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Reports|date=17 September 2018|newspaper=Haaretz|access-date=September 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919200747/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israeli-strikes-on-syria-killed-113-iranian-soldiers-1.6489386|archive-date=September 19, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>