…As US says Iran supplied Yemen rebels with ballistic missile***

After they were deemed combat capable earlier this month, the F-35 “Adir” stealth fighter jets promise to create system-wide change in the Israeli Air Force (IAF).

Israel is the first nation outside the U.S. to declare the initial operational capability of the American-produced F-35s.

Brig. Gen. (ret.) Ephraim Segoli, a former commander of two combat helicopter squadrons who today heads the Airpower Research Center at the Israel-based Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies, said the F-35 “is not just a plane, but a system in its own right.”

“It serves the entire air force, through its range of sensors and ability to communicate what it collects,” he told JNS. “This is not a platform that should be measured like other planes, in terms of how far it can fly, or how many bombs it can carry. It has a bigger contribution to make, through its many sensors, and ability to cooperate with the rest of the air force and distribute and produce [intelligence] data.”

The IAF plans to build two squadrons of F-35 jets, comprising a total of 50 aircraft. The jets are based at the Nevatim Air Force Base in Israel’s Negev desert. Nine of the planes have arrived so far, and five more are expected to join the IAF in 2018.

Segoli, who commanded the Palmachim helicopter and drone base south of Tel Aviv, said the IAF sometimes begins using air platforms before officially announcing that they are operational.

“In my experience, we began using tools as soon as they arrived, while exercising the required caution,” he said.

Commenting on reports regarding glitches in the F-35’s software, he explained, “This is a very sophisticate plane. Every new system has mistakes. Some are linked to the platform and some are linked to the very advanced computerization.”

An Israeli F-35 “Adir” jet receives fuel from a Tennessee Air National Guard KC-135 as the aircraft flies across the Atlantic on Dec, 6, 2016. Credit: U.S. Air Force/1st Lt. Erik D. Anthony.

Ultimately, Segoli said, the IAF will need to answer the question of how to use such an advanced aircraft in its day-to-day task of engaging Israel’s asymmetric threats, notably the Hamas and Hezbollah terror groups.

“What is the big challenge for Israel? Hamas/Hezbollah, or Iran? The defense minister says Iran, but the [IDF] chief of staff says Hezbollah. Some say this plane is designed for big, distant things,” he said, alluding to options for long-range strikes against Iranian targets.

“I think this plane will also have to be used in the day-to-day challenges that we deal with in Lebanon and Gaza,” Segoli said.

The F-35 would be particularly useful in dealing with advanced surface-to-air missiles that are proliferating across the Middle East and falling into enemy hands, he added.

“The IAF should not keep this plane for just the day that the order comes [to hit Iran], which may or may not come. Without trivializing the Iranian threat, we have immediate threats to deal with,” said Segoli.

In the meantime, the US permanent representative to the UN, Nikki Haley, has accused Iran of supplying Yemen’s rebel Houthi movement with missiles to attack Saudi Arabia.

She showed reporters the remnants of a ballistic missile that came close to hitting Riyadh’s airport last month.

It “might as well have had ‘Made in Iran’ stickers” on it, she said, adding that Iran was violating UN resolutions.

Iran denies arming the Houthi movement, which has fought a Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen’s government since 2015.

Iran said the claims were “irresponsible, provocative and destructive”.

But Mrs Haley said several technical details – the absence of stabiliser fins and a series of valves on the side – marked the missile as Iranian-made.

She added that it had the potential to kill hundreds of civilians, and that this highlighted the “undeniable fact that the Iranian regime’s behaviour is growing worse”.

“We must speak with one voice in exposing the regime for what it is – a threat to the peace and security of the whole world.”

Mrs Haley said she was taking the unusual step of declassifying the information “in the spirit of transparency and international co-operation”.

“International peace and security depends on us working together against Iranian aggression,” she said.

Mrs Haley also said the US would build an international coalition to push back against Iran, which she said was “fanning the flames” of conflict in the Middle East. She said this would include diplomatic measures.

JNS with additional report from BBC