The US Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighter squadron that operated from Israel as part of Operation Roaring Lion has departed the country and returned to the United States, according to reports. The squadron participated in strikes in Iran and had been stationed in Israel since the operation began.
The entire US Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighter squadron that had been stationed in Israel since the launch of Operation Roaring Lion in February 2026 has departed the country and returned to the United States, according to reports. The squadron, which operated from Ovda Airbase and participated in strikes on Iranian targets, departed Israel entirely. The departure comes despite renewed US-Iran tensions this week, including a fire exchange overnight Wednesday, and Israeli readiness to resume operations if necessary.
Initial reports at 13:45 Jerusalem on Friday, from American media and Israeli journalist Nir Dvori (N12), stated that 12 F-22s had departed Ovda, en route to the United States via RAF Fairford in the UK. Later, at 16:38 Jerusalem, reporter Ariel Kahana (Israel Hayom) reported that some of the aircraft had been transferred to Fairford Air Base in Britain, suggesting a partial redeployment. The latest development now confirms that the entire squadron has returned to the United States, not Britain, resolving the earlier ambiguity.
The F-22 squadron was deployed as part of the joint US-Israel military campaign against Iran, codenamed Operation Roaring Lion, launched in February 2026. As The Zioneer reported, the campaign has included US strikes on Iranian targets following an Iranian drone attack on a US merchant vessel (Jun 27), and a subsequent exchange of fire that led the US to return refueling tankers to the region (Jul 8). The ongoing operation has seen the deepest US military involvement in the Middle East in years.
It remains unclear whether the F-22 departure signals a permanent end to the US fighter presence in Israel, or a temporary redeployment, and whether any US combat aircraft remain at Ovda. The full scope of the withdrawal and its implications for the joint campaign have not been officially confirmed.
6 developments
- DevelopingUS Air Force returning all B-52 bombers from Britain to US, reports say
- DevelopingUS refueling aircraft take off from Israel, security analyst reports
- StrongSatellite images show US tankers returning to Qatar base, suggesting no imminent military action
- Developing15 US refueling aircraft leave Ben Gurion, transfer to regional bases
Source and signal
- Internal intake