IDF Says It Used F-35 Jets to Down Armed Iranian Drones en Route to Gaza

The Israel Defense Forces using F-35 jets intercepted several armed Iranian drones being transported to the Gaza Strip, it announced on Sunday. The incident took place in March 2021, and the “unidentified aerial vehicle interceptions were carried out in the region’s skies in coordination with neighboring countries,” the IDF said in a statement. It is the first known interception by the advanced fifth-generation F-35 in the world; Israel is one of the few countries that has the advanced US fighter jet. It is not known why the IDF chose now to announce the downing of the Iranian drones, but it comes as the nuclear talks in Vienna have reached the final stages. Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Monday of the interception that: “Whether or not an agreement will be signed – it will not be the end of the road for us – nor should it be for the countries of the region and the world, which must continue to act against Iranian aggression. The State of Israel and its defense establishment will take all the measures necessary – political, economic and if needed, also military, in order to defend our sovereignty and ensure the security of the citizens Israel.” Gantz also noted that Iran exports advanced UAVs and weapons not only to its proxies in the Middle East but also to countries in Latin America, such as Venezuela.