The Israel Defense Forces launched a massive aerial strike on Houthi-controlled targets along the Yemeni city of Hodeidah in a dramatic show of military might.
The operation was mounted by the Israeli Air Force after a series of drone attacks on Israel, the latest on Wednesday.
At least a dozen aircraft featured in the mission, one of the most lavishly expensive uses of the long-range strike capabilities of the F-35I, recalling the “Operation Wooden Leg” of 1985, when the IAF targeted the headquarters of the Palestine Liberation Organization in Tunis.
The whole aircraft was given much importance by the IDF with the introduction of the Israeli-specific version of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.
F-35I Adir with its unique electronic warfare systems and other improvements provides it with an ability to project power, and it has quickly become a priority in the arsenal of IAF.
For sure, the air raid on the Houthi rebels was calculated. The moves by the militant group had recently been provocative, and the Houthis, supported by Iran, probably did not expect such a robust retaliation from Israel.
A strong operation undertaken by the IAF clearly says that Israel is ever ready to protect its sovereignty and citizens.
Videos began to leak on social media during the strike of stealth fighters refueling over the Red Sea to explain the complexity and precision that the logistics displayed. The IAF stated: “A short time ago, warplanes attacked military targets of the Houthi terrorist regime in the Hodeida port area in Yemen, in response to the hundreds of attacks against the State of Israel in recent months.”
The F-35I Adir significantly changed the IAF. It was exceptionally suited for long-range missions with stealth capabilities, superior sensors, and electronic warfare systems.
The F-35I proved during previous operations – among them striking Iranian missile launch sites in Syria – that it might indeed be immune to radar and deliver precision strikes.
Israel is the first country in the Middle East to operate a fifth-gen fighter, though only with nearly 75% of the 50 F-35 Lightnings II it has bought. It just ordered 25 more from the manufacturer with deliveries starting at three to five a year beginning in 2028.
Some of the upgrades that come with the F-35I Adir, such as a dedicated helmet-mounted display and tailored datalink functionality, have further enhanced the data-gathering and processing capabilities of this particular aircraft.
Such changes were worth the ‘I’ designation the aircraft bears, as the F-35I has found itself in the rarefied company of only a few officially recognized variants of the F-35.
The recent operation against the Houthis not only demonstrates that the F-35I Adir can do so, but it mainly points to Israel’s strategic military planning and execution.
The defense strategy of Israel continues to have IAF capabilities to achieve precision with long-range strikes and effectiveness.