Israeli F-35I Fighter Jet Shoots Down Iranian Yak-130 Over Tehran

On March 4, 2026, an Israeli F-35I 'Adir' fighter jet shot down an Iranian Yakovlev Yak-130 aircraft over Tehran, marking the first recorded air-to-air kill by an F-35 and Israel's first such engagement in nearly 40 years. The Yak-130, primarily a trainer jet adapted for patrols with air-to-air missiles, was intercepted amid ongoing Israeli strikes targeting Iranian military and security infrastructure. The incident reflects escalating hostilities involving Israel, Iran, and the US, with significant casualties reported on both sides and continued missile and drone exchanges across the region.