Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, publicly praised the Israeli Air Force this week, calling Israel a “brave, capable, and willing ally” as senior American defense officials highlighted the close military coordination between Jerusalem and Washington during the recent campaign against Iran. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth similarly credited Israeli cooperation as a key factor in the success of Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-led campaign that concluded with a ceasefire earlier this week.
The remarks came during an April 8 Pentagon briefing in which Caine and Hegseth detailed the scope of the operation and the strategic alliance that underpinned it. American officials said the campaign achieved its objectives after weeks of sustained strikes against Iranian military infrastructure.
The cooperation between the two militaries was underscored by a recent statement from an American combat pilot, whose praise for the IAF quickly spread across military and media circles. The pilot, a veteran of three wars with hundreds of combat sorties, described watching Israeli aerial operations over Iran as a humbling experience.
“I’ve flown over Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya. I thought I had seen everything,” the pilot wrote. “But when I saw what the Israeli Air Force is doing in Iran, I realized I’m still a student.”
He marveled at the IAF’s execution of long-range strike missions, describing the logistical complexity of sending 200 aircraft over 1,500 kilometers in a single night, hitting 500 targets, and returning safely without using American refueling bases.
“It’s like flying from Miami to New York, bombing targets along the way, and returning while 200 aircraft move simultaneously without a single collision,” he wrote. “To the Israeli pilots: You are not just the best in the Middle East. You are the best in the world. And that’s the final word.”
Israeli support also reportedly played an important role during the recent rescue of two American airmen after their F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran while supporting Operation Epic Fury. U.S. officials confirmed that both service members were recovered in a high-risk rescue mission completed within 48 hours. While the Pentagon has not publicly detailed every allied asset involved, American officials repeatedly stressed the broader U.S.-Israel coordination that characterized the operation which involved 21 aircraft, including A-10 Thunderbolt attack planes, HC-130J Combat King II search and rescue aircraft, HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopters and a package of Air Force special warfare combat rescue officers and pararescue operators, went into enemy territory to locate and recover the downed pilot and the weapons system officer.
Military cooperation between the U.S. and Israel has deepened steadily over the years, particularly between their air forces. In 2023, Israeli aircraft participated in the U.S.-led Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, one of the most advanced aerial warfare drills in the world. The exercise included joint refueling, long-range strike simulations, and coordinated aerial combat scenarios. It followed Juniper Oak, described by the IDF as the largest joint exercise ever conducted between Israel and U.S. Central Command.
As Israel’s enemies continue to threaten the Jewish state, praise from America’s highest military officers confirms what many defense analysts have said for years: the Israeli Air Force is not merely a regional power. It ranks among the world’s elite fighting forces, and its alliance with the United States remains one of the most formidable military partnerships on earth.
