SHARE

It’s time to check whether hell has frozen over, because the F-35 has actually flown a combat mission! To be clear: The Israeli version of the F-35 is now operational. The U.S. military’s F-35s are still living on a couch in their parents’ basement.

  • Israel is the first country in the world to use the F-35 for combat operations, the head of the Israeli air force said on Tuesday, according to Haaretz.
  • “The F-35 squadron has become an operational squadron,” the newspaper quoted Israeli Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin as saying. “We are flying the F-35 all over the Middle East.”
  • The Israeli F-35s took part in two airstrikes in Syria, according to Haaretz, which also reported the Israeli air force is still determining how best to use the aircraft.
  • Israel plans to buy at least 50 F-35s, Defense News reported on Tuesday. The Israeli version of the F-35 is called “Adir,” or “Mighty One.”
  • The Marine Corp’s version of the F-35 will deploy to the U.S. Central Command theater of responsibility this fall aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex along with 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Get some, Marines. Get some!

WATCH NEXT: