The Israel Defense Forces released a 16-second clip showing multiple F-35I "Adir" stealth fighter jets flying in formation through hazy skies during Operation Roaring Lion, the extensive Israeli air campaign against Iran that began in late February 2026. The footage shows the dark, angular silhouettes of the jets navigating toward their targets, consistent with imagery Israel has released throughout the campaign to showcase the reach and capability of its air force. The Adir, Israel's customized version of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, has served as the backbone of the country's fifth-generation strike capability, equipped with Israeli-made self-defense systems and munitions tailored to its operational needs.

During Operation Roaring Lion, Israeli F-35Is played a central role in an air campaign that hit hundreds of targets across Iran, including ballistic missile sites, air defense systems, and infrastructure linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The jets were credited with helping Israel establish and maintain air superiority over Iranian airspace, a campaign that included a historic moment in early March when an Adir shot down an Iranian Yak-130 fighter jet over Tehran, marking the first known manned aerial kill by an F-35 in the aircraft's history. Israeli Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar praised the pilots involved, calling the engagement "a testament to the strength of the Israeli Air Force."

Israel's use of the F-35I throughout the campaign has drawn significant attention across the region, both for the aircraft's stealth capabilities and for the broader message it sends about the balance of military power in the Middle East. The jets have been used not only over Iran but in prior operations over Syria and Lebanon, reflecting their long-standing role as one of Israel's primary tools for projecting airpower well beyond its borders. Regional governments, including Turkey, have continued to invest heavily in expanding and modernizing their own air fleets, a trend that reflects the wider competitive dynamic shaping military development across the Middle East.

Footage like this has become a regular feature of Israel's public communications strategy during the conflict, serving both to inform the public and to project the capability of its armed forces to allies and adversaries alike. The campaign, which the U.S. military separately referred to as Operation Epic Fury, involved close coordination between American and Israeli forces and represented one of the most intensive air operations conducted against Iran to date. As the broader U.S.-Iran conflict continues months later, footage from these earlier operations continues to circulate, offering a window into the scale and intensity of the campaign that reshaped the region's military balance earlier this year.