The U.S. Air Force disclosed for the first time that the F-35s were tasked with the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses, and were the first in and last out of Iran during the strike mission.
In a press release published on Nov. 25, 2025, the U.S. Air Force has disclosed new details about the role of the F-35 Lightning II during Operation Midnight Hammer, the strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, earlier this year. The details were released as the Airmen from the active duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings completed their deployment to the Central Command (CENTCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR).
The press release explained that the 34th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron was deployed on a short-notice Immediate Response Force Tasking to an undisclosed location in the Middle East. Once there, the squadron conducted Agile Combat Employment (ACE) operations, flying from several bases in the region.
“We got out the door very, very quickly,” said Lt. Col. Aaron Osborne, 34th Fighter Squadron commander. “Within 24 hours of being in theater, we were flying the F-35 in combat missions against Houthi targets.”
Operation Rough Rider
Once in CENTCOM’s AOR, one of the first combat actions of the F-35 was Operation Rough Rider. The operation’s objective was to “disintegrate” the capabilities of the Houthis in Yemen. During the operation, explained the service, pilots from the 34th FS contributed to strikes that destroyed air defense systems, command and control facilities, weapons storage facilities, surface-to-air missile and ballistic missile capabilities.
Notably, the squadron also recorded the first air-to-air kills from an F-35A against one-way attack drones. This is possibly the first time the Air Force acknowledges that the F-35A shot down Houthi drones, while it previously noted that F-16s and F-15Es scored kills. Previously, The War Zone was able to confirm that the Navy’s F-35Cs shot down Houthi drones.
Osborne also mentioned another interesting detail in his statement. “This is the first time anyone has been shot at in 20 years – actually carrying out the Wild Weasel mission. It’s the first time we’re carrying novel weapons on the F-35, bombing into tunnels, double-tapping targets with deep-penetration weapons,” Osborne said.
In May, U.S. officials speaking to The New York Times said Houthi rebels ‘nearly struck’ U.S. F-16s and an F-35 within the first 30 days of Operation Rough Rider. Osborne’s statement could be a reference to that event, although the service did not release details.
This was once again referenced when Osborne spoke about how the squadron grew and matured during the deployment. “To see the squadron grow and get to a spot where the Airmen are comfortable living and working in a place where you’re being shot at and still be experts … to watch SAM launches happen (during Rough Rider) and see guys go toward it and jump on their targets. It was impressive to see,” Osborne said.
Operation Midnight Hammer
In June, the 34th FS was tasked with the escort of a strike package, “kicking down the door” and paving the way for B-2 Spirit stealth bombers. That package was the one involved in Operation Midnight Hammer, which struck underground nuclear sites at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan deep into Iran’s contested airspace.
With one of the primary missions sets of the 388th FW’s F-35s being the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), on June 22, a formation of the unit’s F-35s was the first to penetrate Iranian airspace. The Lightnings used their stealth, radar, sensors and targeting systems to detect and destroy surface-to-air threats.
“Our weapons officer was the overall mission commander,” Osborne said. “We flew hundreds of miles into Iran, escorting the B-2s the entire way.”
Osborne then acknowledged the F-35s employed weapons, but did not detail the specifics. At the same time, he echoed comments by Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said no enemy shots were fired.
“We employed weapons to great effect against surface-to-air missile sites… while they were trying to target us with some very high high-end systems and they were just unable to,” said Osborne. “It was cool to see the jet detect and defeat things – to watch it do exactly what it was designed to do.”
Meanwhile, the B-2 stealth bombers dropped 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs on the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities. F-22 provided air superiority over the target area.
The F-35s escorted the package out of Iran, and were the last U.S. assets to leave Iranian airspace. The aircraft and personnel then prepared for an Iranian retaliation.
“From that point forward, we’re operating under alarm yellow and alarm red conditions, dispersing aircraft and people, expecting ballistic missile attacks, preparing for casualties and medical evacuations. It was wild,” Osborne said.
