Israeli Airstrike Obliterates Iran’s F-14 Jets
Israeli Airstrike Destroys Three Iranian F-14 Fighter Jets | WATCH
With Iran’s proxies, including Hezbollah and the Houthis, still active, and diplomatic efforts for a nuclear deal stalled, the conflict shows no signs of abating.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a precision airstrike in central Iran on Saturday, destroying three F-14 Tomcat fighter jets belonging to the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF), according to IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin. The operation, part of Israel’s ongoing Operation Rising Lion, marks a significant escalation in Israel’s campaign to dismantle Iran’s military capabilities amid a week of intense hostilities.
Footage released by the IDF shows the U.S.-made F-14s, acquired by Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, being obliterated on the ground, likely at an airbase near Isfahan, a key military hub. The destruction of these iconic jets, which Iran has struggled to maintain due to decades of U.S. sanctions, carries both strategic and symbolic weight. “The Iranian missile launch capabilities today are far below what they were when we launched the operation,” Defrin stated, highlighting the IDF’s success in degrading Iran’s retaliatory capacity.
The strike follows a week of relentless Israeli operations targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, air defenses, and military assets. Since June 13, the IDF has struck over 100 targets in Iran, including missile storage sites, command centers, and launchers, destroying approximately 120 surface-to-surface missile launchers—about a third of Iran’s long-range ballistic missile arsenal. The IDF also reported neutralizing 950 explosive drones in Iran before they could be launched, a feat Defrin called “an unprecedented achievement.”
Iran has launched over 1,000 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) toward Israel in the past week, according to Defrin, with most intercepted outside Israeli airspace. “The majority were neutralized before reaching our territory,” he said at 9:11 PM, as reported by journalists Gili Cohen and Doron Kadosh. The IDF’s multilayered air defense systems, including Arrow, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome, have proven highly effective, bolstering Israel’s claim of achieving air superiority over Iran.
The F-14 strike is the second targeting of Iran’s aging air force this month. On June 16, two F-14s were destroyed at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport, where they were parked outside hardened shelters. Defense analysts note that many of Iran’s remaining F-14s are non-operational due to maintenance challenges, but their destruction underscores Israel’s ability to conduct deep strikes with precision. Approximately 50 Israeli aircraft, including F-35I stealth fighters, F-15s, and F-16s, were involved in Saturday’s operation, which targeted around 100 military sites in the Isfahan region.
The operation comes amid heightened tensions following the June 20 assassination of Saeed Izadi, commander of the Quds Force Palestine Corps, in Qom. Izadi, a key liaison between Iran and Hamas, was accused of funding and arming the group ahead of the October 7, 2023, massacre. Another strike on June 13 killed Aminpour Joudaki, head of the IRGC Aerospace Force’s 2nd UAV Brigade, responsible for coordinating drone attacks from Iran’s Ahvaz region. These high-profile eliminations, combined with strikes on nuclear sites like Natanz, have fueled fears of Iranian retaliation.
Iranian media has remained silent on the F-14 losses, though Tehran has claimed, without evidence, to have shot down Israeli aircraft, including up to three F-35s. The IDF dismissed these as “fake news.” Meanwhile, Iran’s launch of over 200 ballistic missiles and drones at Israel since June 13 has prompted heightened alert levels, with schools closed through at least Monday.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the IDF’s “tremendous achievement,” framing the strikes as a message to Iran’s leadership. However, analysts warn that while Iran’s air force poses little threat, its missile and drone capabilities remain formidable despite significant losses.
The IDF’s footage of the burning F-14s, shared widely on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram (t.me/JournalistsTweet), has bolstered Israel’s narrative of dominance. Yet, as Tehran vows “unrestricted retaliation” and residents reportedly flee the capital, the region braces for what may come next in this high-stakes confrontation.