US Air Force withdraws F-22 Raptor stealth fighters from Ovda airbase, returning to US

Israeli media report that the US Air Force has withdrawn its F-22 Raptor stealth fighters from Ovda airbase in southern Israel and is returning them to the United States. The withdrawal follows the end of their deployment during Operation Roaring Lion, confirming an earlier report that the squadron had departed Israel.

Israeli media reported Friday evening that the US Air Force has withdrawn its F-22 Raptor stealth fighters from Ovda airbase in southern Israel and is returning them to the United States. The development confirms an earlier report by The Zioneer at 16:55 that the F-22 squadron had departed Israel for the first time since Operation Roaring Lion, which included strikes in Iran.

Initial reports at 13:45 from American media and Israeli journalist Nir Dvori (N12) said twelve F-22s had departed Ovda, heading to the US via RAF Fairford in the UK. Subsequent reports from Israeli journalist Ariel Kahana (Israel Hayom) indicated some jets had returned to Britain, but by 13:45 the thread had converged on the squadron returning to the United States, not Britain. The Zioneer's 16:55 bulletin, drawn from those reports, stated the squadron had left Israel. Friday evening's Israeli media reports now corroborate the withdrawal from Ovda specifically and the return to the US.

As The Zioneer reported earlier, the F-22s were deployed to Israel as part of US military support for Operation Roaring Lion, which included strikes in Iran. The squadron had been stationed at Ovda for five months, since February 2026, according to the thread.

The number of aircraft withdrawn and the exact timeline of the return remain unconfirmed by official US or Israeli sources.

6 developments

1. 1 hour ago · 17:19 · 10 JulLatest

   Confirms squadron departure from Ovda airbase following Operation Roaring Lion.

2. 16:55 · 10 Jul

   Squadron returned to the United States, not Britain.

3. 16:38 · 10 Jul

   F-22 Raptors relocated to Fairford Air Base in Britain.

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