Israel says took out two Iranian drones with F-35 warplanes in third countries

The Israeli military said on Monday that it used sophisticated F-35 stealth fighters to shoot down two Iranian drones in third countries a year ago, providing some details about the incidents, which had been under military censorship.

A military official who briefed reporters on the March 2021 events declined to say where the drones were intercepted or whether those countries gave permission for the use of their airspace.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity according to regulations, said the drones were launched from Iran and were bound for Israel.

"The UAVs were intercepted in regional airspace in coordination with neighboring countries before they could enter Israeli skies," the military alleged in a statement, using an acronym for unmanned aerial vehicles.

Israel says Iran and its allies in the region are actively developing and testing long-range drones that can transfer ammunition, collect intelligence and carry out attacks. It says the drones shot down last March were carrying handguns and explosives bound for Palestine's West Bank and Gaza.

Israel says it shot down a third Iranian drone launched from Iraq in May 2021, when Israel launched a deadly 11-day bombing campaign against Gaza, killing 256 Palestinians. Rocket fire from Gaza rulers Hamas and other militants killed 13 in Israel.

Tel Aviv says that drone was shot down after it entered Israeli airspace. Iran supports a number of powerful Shia militias inside Iraq.

Israel views Iran as its greatest threat and regularly carries out strikes on suspected Iranian military targets in neighboring Syria.