Hungary, Rumania, and Bulgaria grant overflight rights for F-16s deploying from Germany to Turkey, saving them two hours and marking the first flight of USAF fighters on an operational mission over these countries since World War II.
Less than a day after arriving in the Middle East, F-15E Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. defended Israel from an Iranian attack in April 2024. DUDE flight, four F-15Es from the 335th Fighter Squadron, downed two dozen Iranian drones in roughly 45 minutes.