The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed Saturday that an Israeli fighter jet was targeted by a surface-to-air missile (SAM) during operational maneuvers in Iranian airspace. Reports from Yedioth Ahronoth noted that this is one of several attempts to intercept Israeli jets over Iran since the onset of the current conflict, all of which the IDF claims were successfully neutralized by onboard defense systems. The offensive has hit a range of military and civilian targets, including residential and educational facilities. In retaliation, Tehran has launched sustained strikes against U.S. regional interests and large-scale bombardments of Israeli territory. The escalation has forced much of the Israeli population into shelters and resulted in significant casualties and infrastructure damage on both sides.

Source: Egypt Independent March 21, 2026 13:26 UTC