IDF reveals dramatic F-16 Sufa launch footage from Iran strike | WATCH

The Israel Defense Forces released dramatic video footage showing F-16C/I “Sufa” fighter jets taking off from Israeli air bases as part of the wide-scale assault on Iranian military infrastructure during Operation Rising Lion. The aircraft, armed with JDAM precision-guided bombs and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, are seen roaring down the runway toward Iranian targets.

Israel’s swift and calculated campaign to secure air dominance over Iranian skies has drawn praise from top defense analysts around the world, who say the operation showcased one of the most capable and experienced air forces globally. According to Justin Bronk, senior research fellow at the U.K.’s Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Israel’s ability to shift from long-range missile attacks to direct bombing runs—enabled by the rapid neutralization of enemy air defenses—was “impressive.”

Using stealth F-35 jets to detect and expose enemy radar positions, the Israeli Air Force then deployed F-15s and F-16s armed with precision glide bombs and long-range missiles to strike critical infrastructure with deadly efficiency.

William Freer of the Council on Geostrategy called Israel’s establishment of air superiority “a remarkable feat,” crediting not only the technology but also the depth of intelligence and planning. With 340 operational aircraft, vast munitions reserves, and support from U.S. logistics, Israel’s air force remains, according to Dutch analyst Frederik Mertens, “one of the most experienced and capable in the world.”