Air-Force F-35s caught by Hezbollah TV over Lebanon in rare operational flight

[500]

F-35s caught by Hezbollah TV over Lebanon in rare operational flight​

A photographer for Hezbollah-owned TV station Al Manar tweeted photos of the advanced fifth-generation aircraft flying over Lebanon.​

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
JANUARY 25, 2021 20:00

Israeli F-35s are never seen in combat, but on Monday they seemed to have been captured by a Lebanese photographer patrolling the skies over Lebanon.

Ali Shaib, a photographer for Hezbollah-owned TV station Al Manar, tweeted photos of the advanced fifth-generation aircraft flying over Lebanon. While the planes could not immediately be identified as belonging to the Israeli Air Force, Israel does routinely fly over Lebanon as part of its ongoing efforts to collect intelligence on Hezbollah activities.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1353707019820261377

Shaib mistakenly identified the planes as F-15 fighter jets but an examination of the photos clearly showed that they were F-35s, the most advanced fighter jet in IAF use. He wrote that he had counted six fighter jets.

Built by Lockheed Martin, the jets have an extremely low radar signature, making them stealth like and allowing them to operate undetected deep inside enemy territory, as well as evade advanced missile defense systems like the S-300 and S-400, which have been deployed in countries such as Syria.

The IAF currently has about 30 active F-35i Adir aircraft out of a total of 50 planes set to land in the coming years, to make two full squadrons by 2024.

The IAF announced in August that as part of changes to make the force more efficient and better able to contend with regional threats, a third F-35i Adir squadron will open next year.

In 2018, IAF commander Maj.-Gen. Amikam Norkin revealed that F-35s were being used in operations to attack enemy targets. Norkin also displayed a photograph of an Israeli F-35 flying over Beirut.

“We are flying the F-35 all over the Middle East. It has become part of our operational capabilities. We are the first to attack using the F-35 in the Middle East and have already attacked twice on different fronts,” he said at the time.

F-35s caught by Hezbollah TV over Lebanon in rare operational flight

A photographer for Hezbollah-owned TV station Al Manar tweeted photos of the advanced fifth-generation aircraft flying over Lebanon.

www.jpost.com

 

[what]

Is Lebanon ever complaining about those illegal crossings into its airspace?

 

[Costin84]

Is Lebanon ever complaining about those illegal crossings into its airspace?

You can't really scream illegal as a state completely overrun by a terrorist organisation like Hezbollah.
While you have no power over them,your national territory is fair game.

 

[Fairon]

Is Lebanon ever complaining about those illegal crossings into its airspace?

Yes they are but no one cared and Lebanon can't do anything about it.
Seems like recently they filed a complaint to UN about it as well.

 

[what]

I know they cant do anything about it, I was just wondering if they even make the effort anymore to complain.

 

[Vergennes]

Lebanon won't but most importantely can't do anything against IAF flights over their territory. Without any credible air force or air defence systems their skies remain naked.

 

[500]

Is Lebanon ever complaining about those illegal crossings into its airspace?

According to UN resolutions Lebanon must disarm Hezbollah. So you can't throw stones living in glass house.

 

[CEZAYIRLI]

According to UN resolutions Lebanon must disarm Hezbollah. So you can't throw stones living in glass house.

"According to UN resolutions Lebanon must disarm Hezbollah"
And according to UN Resolutions, every Israeli must go back to Eastern Europe where he comes from.

 

[CEZAYIRLI]

Lebanon won't but most importantely can't do anything against IAF flights over their territory. Without any credible air force or air defence systems their skies remain naked.

We will kick the Zionists out from Arab land, just like we kicked the Frenchies out of Algeria. Remember ?

 

[Saithan]

Why did the Hezbollah photographer disclose the information and picture. Wouldn't Hezbollah have kept the information secret and observed if IAF used same route for patrols and such. (Something tells me they disclosed this information to either annoy or say "aha we caught you on camera").

It's much easier to keep track of someone if you can confirm operational route and such, and if you want to test radars and such.