Israel shoots down Iran's fighter jet over Tehran in first dogfight of Middle East war

Tel Aviv: The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claim to have shot down an Iranian YAK-130 fighter jet. The IDF reported that its F-35I shot down the Iranian YAK-130 in the first fighter jet dogfight of the war that began on Saturday. The IDF described this as a major success for its air force and the F-35I fighter jet which achieved the feat in the skies over Tehran. Israel stated that this is the first time an F-35 'Adir' fighter jet has shot down a manned aircraft.

The F-35, manufactured by American defense and aerospace company Lockheed Martin, is considered one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world. Israel has long operated it. Meanwhile, the YAK-130, a subsonic two-seat advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft originally developed by Yakovlev and Aermacchi, Iran.

What is happening in Iran?

Israeli and US attacks continued in Iran for the fifth consecutive day on Wednesday. Explosions were heard in Iran's capital, Tehran, and other cities. Iran launched missile retaliatory strikes. The Israeli military said it had activated its air defenses to prevent further missile attacks from Iran.

This conflict, which has shaken Iran, Israel, and the entire Middle East, began on Saturday morning with a US-Israeli attack on Iran. Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei was killed in this attack, along with several other prominent leaders. More than a thousand people, including hundreds of children, have been killed in this conflict in Iran.

Will the war go on for a long time?

US President Donald Trump has stated that this war could last a month or more. Meanwhile, Israel has also launched attacks in Lebanon. Israel has stated that it is attacking the Lebanese group Hezbollah. Israel has also carried out ground attacks against the pro-Iranian Hezbollah group in Lebanon.

The Israeli military said in a statement Wednesday that its fighter jets carried out multiple strikes on the Iranian regime's Basij and Internal Security command center in Tehran. The IDF said the targeted command center was used by the Iranian regime to maintain control throughout Iran. It was destroyed, the IDF said.