Latest news with #NadavShoshani
New York Times
a day ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Israel Says Iran Struck With Missile Armed With Cluster Munitions
The Israeli military said Iran launched a missile with a cluster munition warhead at a populated area in central Israel on Thursday, according to Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, a military spokesman — the first report of that type of weapon being used in the current war. Iran's mission to the United Nations declined to respond to the Israeli claim, which was linked to a ballistic missile that struck Or Yehuda, Israel, and nearby towns. No one was killed by the missile or its bomblets, and it was unclear if anyone was injured. ` Cluster munitions have warheads that burst and scatter numerous bomblets, and are known for causing indiscriminate harm to civilians. More than 100 countries have signed on to a 2008 agreement to prohibit them — but Israel and Iran have not adopted the ban, nor have major powers like the United States, Russia, China and India. Videos and photographs verified by The New York Times show an unexploded bomblet on the patio of an apartment building in Or Yehuda after an Iranian missile barrage on Thursday. The object, which resembles a narrow artillery shell or rocket warhead, is most likely a submunition similar to those that have armed some Iranian ballistic missiles since 2014, according to Fabian Hinz, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London-based think tank. 'The chances of hitting something increase when you have a missile that might not be as pinpoint-accurate as you would like it to be,' Mr. Hinz said in an interview. 'Sometimes you might not need that much destructive force — imagine you want to hit an air-defense or a missile-defense system. These things are not armored, they are pretty soft targets, so just having a geographical spread of the attack could be worth it even if the explosive force and penetrative power is less.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
The 20 second trick that once cost US its prized stealth fighter; can Iran learn it to hunt Israeli jets?
While the Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighters continue to pound targets after targets in Iran, the latter has been claiming to have downed at least four F-35I Adir fifth generation stealth combat aircraft. Iran also boasts of having captured two Israeli fighter pilots with one being a woman. There has been no independent confirmation of the Iranian claims with Israel, too, terming the reports of the F-35 shoot-downs as "fake news". Soon after Iranian media on June 14, 2025, reported that the country's defense forces had shot down two F-35I Adirs, Israel Defense Forces International spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani took to social media to issue a clarification. "Fake News Detector: Iran didn't shoot down any Israeli fighter jets. They are trying to create a fake victory narrative and it's not going very well," the IDF officer posted on X. According to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), one of the arms of Iranian Armed Forces , the long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system Bavar-373 was used to bring down the F-35 fighters. If Iran's claims are true, it would mark the first-ever combat loss for a fifth generation stealth fighter. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tan Dinh: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More But a stealth ground attack aircraft, although not belonging to the fifth generation, was indeed shot out of the sky more than 25 years back. The amazing military feat took place with the first prototype of what would eventually become the F-35 more than a year away from its first test flight, and many years away from entering active service. It was achieved not by employing advanced technologies, but a military officer who was daring, innovative and willing to employ unconventional strategies in pursuit of his mission. Live Events You Might Also Like: Iran claims to have hit Mossad training facility in Herzliya; Israel kills top Iranian military officer What happened with US F-117A Nighthawk stealth attack jet During the Yugoslav civil war in 1999, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ) air patrol come under fire with one US F-117A Nighthawk falling to the ground after a missile hit. Another stealth aircraft was hit during the same campaign and later declared a loss after managing to somehow reach its airbase. The F-117A was world's first stealth combat aircraft. A single pilot, twin-engine jet, the Nighthawk flew only subsonic and was developed as a ground attack aircraft. Deployed in a combat for the first time during the US invasion of Panama in 1989, the F-117A played a big role in the 1991 Gulf War, hitting hundreds of target in Iraq. Its next major deployment was during the Yugoslav civil war in the 1990s when NATO announced its forces were ready to assist in peacekeeping operations and enforce no-fly zones in the conflict-afflicted regions. As part of the deployment, NATO jets carried out bombing campaign against the then Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War from March 24, 1999, to June 10, 1999. US Air Force 's F-117As also took part in these bombing runs. You Might Also Like: Iran claims it shot down Israeli F-35 stealth fighter but can the undetectable be hit? The truth may shock you How a Yugoslav Army officer tracked and shot down the F-117A US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Darrell Patrick "Dale" Zelko, taking off from Italy's Aviano airbase on March 27, 1999, was carrying out a bombing run in his F-117A. His call sign was "Vega-31" and the aircraft serial number 82-0806. During his mission, he flew over Belgrade. On the ground, a few miles away from his location, was a unit of the Yugoslavian Army tasked with protecting the ground assets against NATO attacks. Lt. Col Zoltán Dani of the then existing Yugoslav army was in command of the air defense unit which had Soviet Isayev S-125 Neva/ Pechora missile system (NATO reporting name SA-3 Goa) in its arsenal. Yugoslav spies had informed Lt. Col Dani that US F-117As were in the vicinity. And, he was ready for them. Locking on to the stealthy F-117A and then firing a missile to shoot it down was at that time considered next to impossible. The Yugoslav officer was also well aware of the fatal risk of NATO targeting his radars and missile systems. Lt Col Dani goes for the kill He ordered his fellow soldiers to switch on the P-18 radar and emit lower frequencies to find out where the F-117As were. Even though the P-18 radar could not paint the stealth jet accurately, it had the capability to find out the aircraft's location approximately. Just after 20 seconds the radar was switched off as it failed to locate the jet. This was also deliberate strategy as the soldiers knew anything longer and the US jets would be able to find them out. The American High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) and smart bombs were a big threat for the air defense unit. A few minutes later, the radar came online again, and this time too for 20 seconds. Again., no success for Lt Col Dani and his soldiers. Unaware of the Yugoslav air defense unit on the ground, Lt Col Zelko was on his way back to Aviano airbase. The two adversaries had no idea what was in store for them in the next few seconds. With Lt Col Zelko's plane a few miles away, the Yugoslav soldiers switched on the radar once again as they knew that up there somewhere in the skies, the US stealth jets were flying for their mission. It was the third time and once again Lt Col Dani's men had the radar scanning the sky for only 20 seconds. But those 20 seconds proved to be fateful as the F-117A lit up their radar screen at 8:15 pm local time. The weather was poor, the F-117A was about 14 miles (23 km) away but well within range, and there were no fighter escorts. Lt Col Dani was also helped by the fact that NATO jets had been using the same route for their missions since its start three days ago. There was no SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) support for the F-117A, and most importantly, Lt Col Zelko was flying very low. Seeing the enemy jet on his radar screen led Lt Col Dani to order another soldier, Lt Col Dorde Anicic, to fire the S-125 Neva/ Pechora missiles. Within seconds two missiles were in air, chasing the F-117A which was taken by surprise. The 1961 vintage Pechoras with a range of 8 miles (13 km) raced towards the F-117A. Lt Col Zelko was able to perform an evasive maneuver as the one of the Pechoras closed in. The first missile missed the jet but the F-117A was not so lucky with the second. The detonation of the second missile led to shrapnel damaging the aircraft, and along with the shockwaves resulted in the fighter falling to the earth. It was the first-ever combat loss of a stealth aircraft, and a little more than a month later on April 30, 1999, another F-117A was hit by a Yugoslav air defence missile. The plane survived but was never flown again after it managed to land at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany.
International Business Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- International Business Times
FACT CHECK: Is This a Real Photo of an Israeli F35 Fighter Jet Shot Down by Iran Amid the Ongoing Conflict?
Israel carried out a surprise strike last week on multiple targets across Iran, triggering a wave of missile retaliations from Iran into Israeli territory. Iran claimed that it had shot down three Israeli F-35 fighter jets, and an alleged image of one soon went viral online. Several posts on X showed a large fighter jet with its left wing severed, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. Since then, several social media users have been left puzzled about the authenticity of the claim and also the viral photograph. Although the claim has continued to remain viral over the past few days, the truth is that the photo is fake and misleading. Bizarre Claim There is no evidence that the viral image is a genuine photo of an Israeli F-35 fighter jet shot down by Iran. Several aspects of the image don't match the real proportions of that type of aircraft, suggesting it was likely created using AI or digitally manipulated. Official Iranian military Telegram accounts claimed that their forces had successfully downed three Israeli jets and captured one pilot. According to PressTV, Iran's state-run news outlet, this would be " the first time a fifth-generation stealth aircraft has been successfully downed." The report went on to specify the exact models of the jets involved: "The F-35 fighters represent the most advanced aircraft in the Israeli Air Force, outclassing older, non-stealth F-15 and F-16 jets by a full generation. These jets were acquired from the United States, with the F-35 Lightning II manufactured by Lockheed Martin. "Israel's customized variant, the F-35I, is engineered for radar evasion, enabling deep penetration missions with a reduced risk of detection or interception." AI-Generated Image Although Israel hasn't said anything about the exact model of aircraft used in the attack, it has denied Iran's claims. In fact, Israeli officials rejected Iran's claims of downing any of their fighter jets, pointing to a post on X by spokesperson Nadav Shoshani, who wrote, "Iran didn't shoot down any Israeli fighter jets. They are trying to create a fake victory narrative and it's not going very well." The photo circulating on social media raises several red flags. First, a reverse image search on Google turned up no credible news sources confirming the image as authentic. Second, the F-35 shown in the X post appears too large compared to the people standing around it. According to the U.S. Air Force, an F-35 stands 14 feet tall, has a wingspan of 35 feet, and measures 51 feet in length. The Israeli Air Force, which began receiving F-35s from the U.S. in 2016, refers to them by the nickname "Adir." Photos on Lockheed Martin's official website show a technician climbing onto the cockpit of an F-35, clearly demonstrating the aircraft's true scale. Also, video footage from Lockheed Martin shows a pilot standing in front of the jet at the 1:56 mark, and the wingspan in the video is noticeably smaller than the exaggerated proportions seen in the image shared on X. Hence the claim is completely false.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Satellite Images Show How Israeli Strikes Damaged Iran's Nuclear, Military Facilities
Tehran: Maxar Technologies has released high-resolution satellite images showing the extensive damage which has been inflicted by Israel on Iran's military and nuclear facilities as the two enemies continue to pound each other for the fifth straight day. The satellite images help paint a clearer picture of what's happening on the ground amid internet and media restrictions in the Islamic Republic. The military confrontation between the two enemy nations started after Israel launched a "preemptive" attack on Iran last Friday, accusing Tehran of pursuing a nuclear weapons programme in defiance of global warnings, despite Tehran's insistence that its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only. Iran has retaliated to Israeli aggression by raining missiles on the Jewish state. The new images from June 15 show the extent of damage at Kermanshah missile facility, Shiraz missile and electronics production facilities, Bid Kaneh missile, and Natanz enrichment facility due to the Israeli aggression. They came a day after the Israeli military on Monday said that it was striking surface-to-surface missile sites in Iran. "The IDF is currently striking surface-to-surface missile sites in central Iran," Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman Nadav Shoshani wrote on X. "We are operating against this threat in our skies and in Iranian skies." At the missile base operated by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) near the western province of Kermanshah, images show multiple buildings damaged by Israeli attacks, with debris scattered around the site. Damage can also be seen in various tunnel entrances up against the mountainside, which are likely used to conceal and hide missile-related equipment away from attacks. Iran is know to burry its ballistic missiles deep in underground silos spread out across the country. Israel also struck the Shiraz military and electronics facilities in Fars Province. Images of the missile facility show active fires and burned vegetation around the premises; however, no signs of destroyed buildings or vehicles can be observed. Missile facilities reportedly manufacture, repair, and store Iranian ballistic missiles. Image shows burning buildings at Shiraz Electronics Production Facility | See hi-res image here Photo Credit: Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies However, heavy smoke and active fires can be observed in and around the Shiraz electronics facility that produces electronics for the Iranian military. Images also show damage sustained at the Shahid Modarres Garrison rocket production facility near Bid Kaneh, south-west of Tehran. Multiple buildings can be seen destroyed by Israeli strikes in the images. Dozens of trucks, vehicles and other equipment were relocated and dispersed throughout the site, possibly to hide the extent of damage. Image shows a closer view of the damaged building at Bid Kaneh Military Facility | See hi-res image here Photo Credit: Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies Bid Kaneh is reportedly one of Iran's key ballistic missile facilities, where Tehran also manufactures its drones, according to a Reuters report. Images of Iran's biggest uranium enrichment plant at Natanz revealed new vehicle activity in the dirt that covers the underground centrifuge buildings. N nuclear watchdog chief told the BBC on Monday that it was very likely all the roughly 15,000 centrifuges operating at the Natanz facility were badly damaged or destroyed because of a power cut caused by an Israeli strike. The latest images show vehicle tracks and small dirt piles, which correlate to the same areas where the craters were seen on images released on June 14. This could have been done to conceal or cover the craters. Israel on Tuesday said it targeted military sites in Iran and killed a senior commander in fresh strikes, prompting Tehran to fire missiles in retaliation on the fifth day of escalating clashes between the arch foes. Explosions were also heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in the morning, shortly after air raid sirens sounded across parts of Israel following missile launches from Iran, the Israeli military said.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Don't be fooled by this video claiming to show Iran downing Israeli fighter jets
Claim: Footage authentically showed Iranian forces downing Israeli F-35 fighter jets. Rating: Context: The footage circulated online weeks before Israel launched attacks on Iran on June 13, 2025. Versions of the footage seen before June 13 included the words "sim" or "simulation" in their title or caption, indicating the footage was not authentic. In mid-June 2025, after Israel launched deadly attacks on Iran, a video (archived) circulated online claiming to show Iranian forces shooting down Israeli F-35 fighter jets. (X user @Johny_boy_143) The claim circulated on X (archived), Facebook (archived), Instagram (archived) and TikTok (archived). According to the Iranian Army, the country's armed forces downed (archived) two Israeli fighter jets on June 13 and another (archived) on June 14. The condition of the pilots of the June 13 planes was unknown (archived), the army said. The Iranian Army arrested (archived) the pilot of the June 14 plane, according to the army's Telegram channel. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) international spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, however, called (archived) reports that Iran downed two Israeli army jets "Fake News" on June 14. Though it remained unconfirmed at the time of this writing whether Iran had shot down any Israeli fighter jets — and, if so, whether these were F-35 aircraft — it was clear that this specific footage was miscaptioned and did not show the alleged downing. The footage circulated (archived) as early as May 18, 2025, nearly a month before Israel launched attacks on Iran. Additionally, versions of the footage from May and early June included the word "sim" or "simulation" in the title or caption, indicating the footage was not authentic. Though the origin of the footage remained uncertain at the time of this writing, it was clear from the early postings it did not show Israeli fighter jets on June 13 or 14. The IDF referred us to Shoshani's X post when asked about the reported loss of Israeli fighter jets and declined to comment on what type of planes the Israeli Air Force used. According to Lockheed Martin, which produces the F-35, Israel was the first foreign nation to purchase the planes in 2010. We reached out to the government of Iran for authentic evidence of the downed jets and the reportedly arrested pilot and await a reply. A spokesperson for Eagle Dynamics, whose Digital Combat Simulator World (DCS World) program users credited as the origin of the miscaptioned footage, said via email that its simulator could create "very realistic aerial combat scenes." However, the spokesperson said, Eagle Dynamics could not confirm whether the circulating footage came from DCS World. According to video captions, the footage showed the fictional/simulated downing of two Russian-made Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jets. An aircraft with the same white/dark markings as seen in Russian pictures of the Su-57 can be seen at 00:45 in the footage. The F-35, by contrast, is delivered from the factory uniformly gray, a color that the Israeli Air Force largely kept, according to Lockheed Martin's website. @aja_media. "🔹 #فوری | لحظاتی پیش یک جنگنده دیگر دشمن در آسمان غرب کشور هدف قرار گرفت، خلبان ایجکت کرده است." Telegram, 14 June 2025, ---. "اصابت موشکهای پدافند ارتش به دومین جنگنده نیز تایید میشود." Telegram, 13 June 2025, ---. "خلبان جنگنده مذکور دقایقی پیش توسط تکاوران نیروی زمینی ارتش دستگیر شد!" Telegram, 14 June 2025, ---. "سرنوشت خلبانان این دو جنگنده ، همچنان نامعلوم است و یگانهای عملیات ویژه ارتش مشغول عملیات جستوجو و به اسارت گرفتن این خلبانان هستند." Telegram, 13 June 2025, Digital Combat Simulator | DCS World | Combat Simulator. Accessed 16 June 2025. "Live Updates: Israeli Military Warns Residents in Part of Iran's Capital to Evacuate." AP News, Accessed 16 June 2025. Lockheed Martin. About the F-35. Accessed 16 June 2025. @LTC_Shoshani. "Fake News Detector: Iran Didn't Shoot down Any Israeli Fighter Jets. They Are Trying to Create a Fake Victory Narrative and It's Not Going Very Well." X, 14 June 2025, Martin, Lockheed. Israel. Accessed 16 June 2025. Matamiliterngapak. "Kompleksitas Simulasi Militer: Su-57 vs. Sistem Rudal SAM." YouTube, 18 May 2025, "Russia's 5th-Generation Fighter Jet Named as Su-57." TASS, Accessed 16 June 2025. "Russia's Su-57 Outshines US Fifth-Generation Fighters, Says Expert." TASS, Accessed 16 June 2025. "Timeline of Tensions and Hostilities between Israel and Iran." AP News, 13 June 2025,
