Changes

The very first time the F-16 saw combat, however, was earlier in that year.  On April 28, 1981, F-16s downed two [[Syria]]n Mi-8 helicopters over [[Lebanon]].<ref>[http://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article7.html F-16.net: Israel]</ref>  The first fighter kill was in July 14, 1981, when [[Amir Nachumi]], one of the pilots in the Osirak attack, splashed a Syrian [[MiG-21]].  Nachumi would go on to score six more victories in the Falcon.  In 1982, Israeli Falcons were involved in the aerial fighting with the Syrian air force over the [[Bekaa Valley]], scoring a total of 44 aerial victories for no losses.  The Syrians claim to have shot down a number of F-16s in the battle, but this has never been confirmed.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_272.shtml Syrian Air-to-Air Victories Since 1948]</ref>

The very first time the F-16 saw combat, however, was earlier in that year.  On April 28, 1981, F-16s downed two [[Syria]]n Mi-8 helicopters over [[Lebanon]].<ref>[http://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article7.html F-16.net: Israel]</ref>  The first fighter kill was in July 14, 1981, when [[Amir Nachumi]], one of the pilots in the Osirak attack, splashed a Syrian [[MiG-21]].  Nachumi would go on to score six more victories in the Falcon.  In 1982, Israeli Falcons were involved in the aerial fighting with the Syrian air force over the [[Bekaa Valley]], scoring a total of 44 aerial victories for no losses.  The Syrians claim to have shot down a number of F-16s in the battle, but this has never been confirmed.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_272.shtml Syrian Air-to-Air Victories Since 1948]</ref>

F-16s have since formed the backbone of Israel’s striking power.  Falcons were active in the [[2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]], and many of these were the new F-16I, a variant designed specifically for [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli Defense Force]] needs.  One F-16I was lost in an accident during the conflict.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=740395 IDF Fighter Jet Crashes During Take-off]</ref>  On September 6, 2007, F-16Is also helped carry out Operation Orchard, an attack on a suspected Syrian nuclear plant.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/sep/16/iran.israel Was Israeli Raid a Dry Run For Attack on Iran?]</ref>  F-16s hit several Hamas targets in [[Gaza]] in the last days of 2008 in response to rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7800985.stm BBC: Massive Air Raids on Gaza]</ref>

F-16s have since formed the backbone of Israel's striking power.  Falcons were active in the [[2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]], and many of these were the new F-16I, a variant designed specifically for [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli Defense Force]] needs.  One F-16I was lost in an accident during the conflict.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=740395 IDF Fighter Jet Crashes During Take-off]</ref>  On September 6, 2007, F-16Is also helped carry out Operation Orchard, an attack on a suspected Syrian nuclear plant.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/sep/16/iran.israel Was Israeli Raid a Dry Run For Attack on Iran?]</ref>  F-16s hit several Hamas targets in [[Gaza]] in the last days of 2008 in response to rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7800985.stm BBC: Massive Air Raids on Gaza]</ref>

===Pakistan===

===Pakistan===

NATO F-16s helped enforce the no-fly zone over [[Bosnia]] (Operation Deny Flight) during the [[Bosnian War|Yugoslav Civil War]].  On February 28, 1994, six Yugoslav Air Force light attack fighters violated the no-fly zone and were engaged by a pair of USAF Falcons.  Captain Robert Wright downed three fighters with an AMRAAM and two [[AIM-9 Sidewinder|Sidewinder]] missiles, and Captain Scott O’Grady fired a Sidewinder, but missed.  The Falcons had to disengage due to low fuel, but a second pair arrived, and shot down a fourth plane with a Sidewinder.  The remaining two YAF planes bugged out.<ref>[http://www.f-16.net/news_article1010.html USAF F-16s Shoot down Four Serb attack aircraft]</ref><ref>[http://www.afsouth.nato.int/operations/denyflight/DenyFlightFactSheet.htm AFSOUTH Fact Sheet: Operation Deny Flight]</ref>

NATO F-16s helped enforce the no-fly zone over [[Bosnia]] (Operation Deny Flight) during the [[Bosnian War|Yugoslav Civil War]].  On February 28, 1994, six Yugoslav Air Force light attack fighters violated the no-fly zone and were engaged by a pair of USAF Falcons.  Captain Robert Wright downed three fighters with an AMRAAM and two [[AIM-9 Sidewinder|Sidewinder]] missiles, and Captain Scott O’Grady fired a Sidewinder, but missed.  The Falcons had to disengage due to low fuel, but a second pair arrived, and shot down a fourth plane with a Sidewinder.  The remaining two YAF planes bugged out.<ref>[http://www.f-16.net/news_article1010.html USAF F-16s Shoot down Four Serb attack aircraft]</ref><ref>[http://www.afsouth.nato.int/operations/denyflight/DenyFlightFactSheet.htm AFSOUTH Fact Sheet: Operation Deny Flight]</ref>

On June 2, 1995, Captains Wright and O’Grady were airborne again, patrolling the no-fly zone near Banja Luka, when O’Grady’s plane was locked on by an SA-6 missile and shot down.  He safely ejected, and spent six days evading Serbian forces before he was rescued.  His safe return made international headlines.<ref>''Rolling Thunder:  Jet Combat from World War II to the Gulf War'', by Ivan Rendall, Dell Publishing, 1997</ref>  

On June 2, 1995, Captains Wright and O’Grady were airborne again, patrolling the no-fly zone near Banja Luka, when O’Grady's plane was locked on by an SA-6 missile and shot down.  He safely ejected, and spent six days evading Serbian forces before he was rescued.  His safe return made international headlines.<ref>''Rolling Thunder:  Jet Combat from World War II to the Gulf War'', by Ivan Rendall, Dell Publishing, 1997</ref>  

On March 24, 1999, at the beginning of the [[Kosovo War]] (Operation Allied Force), a Dutch F-16 based in southern [[Italy]] shot down a Yugoslav [[MiG-29]] with an AMRAAM missile, the first air-to-air victory of the operation, and the first for the Dutch military since World War II.<ref>[http://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article8.html F-16 Users: The Netherlands]</ref>  NATO Falcons executed a large portion of the airstrikes in the war, and on May 1, an American F-16 was shot down by an SA-3 missile while on a mission over Serbia.<ref>http://www.f-16.net/f-16_fighting_falcon_airframe-2787.html</ref>  The pilot was recovered safely.  [http://www.f-16.net/news_article2167.html]  A few days later, near [[Belgrade]], another MiG-29 fell to a USAF F-16 of the 78th Fighter Squadron.<ref>[http://www.codeonemagazine.com/archives/1999/articles/jul_99/jul2_p.html Operation Allied Force in Code One Magazine]</ref>

On March 24, 1999, at the beginning of the [[Kosovo War]] (Operation Allied Force), a Dutch F-16 based in southern [[Italy]] shot down a Yugoslav [[MiG-29]] with an AMRAAM missile, the first air-to-air victory of the operation, and the first for the Dutch military since World War II.<ref>[http://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article8.html F-16 Users: The Netherlands]</ref>  NATO Falcons executed a large portion of the airstrikes in the war, and on May 1, an American F-16 was shot down by an SA-3 missile while on a mission over Serbia.<ref>http://www.f-16.net/f-16_fighting_falcon_airframe-2787.html</ref>  The pilot was recovered safely.  [http://www.f-16.net/news_article2167.html]  A few days later, near [[Belgrade]], another MiG-29 fell to a USAF F-16 of the 78th Fighter Squadron.<ref>[http://www.codeonemagazine.com/archives/1999/articles/jul_99/jul2_p.html Operation Allied Force in Code One Magazine]</ref>

===Iraq War===

===Iraq War===

F-16s were also involved in the [[Operation Iraqi Freedom|2003 Iraq War]].  One was lost to non-combat causes in June 2003.<ref>http://www.f-16.net/f-16_fighting_falcon_airframe-2661.html</ref>

F-16s were also involved in the [[Operation Iraqi Freedom|2003 Iraq War]].  One was lost to non-combat causes in June 2003.<ref>http://www.f-16.net/f-16_fighting_falcon_airframe-2661.html</ref>

Earlier that year, an F-16 was involved in another friendly fire incident with a Patriot missile battery.<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2003/030326-patriot01.htm Patriot Missiles apparently Falter for Second Time]</ref>  There were no casualties, but the battery’s radar dish was destroyed when the Falcon hit it with a HARM missile.

Earlier that year, an F-16 was involved in another friendly fire incident with a Patriot missile battery.<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2003/030326-patriot01.htm Patriot Missiles apparently Falter for Second Time]</ref>  There were no casualties, but the battery's radar dish was destroyed when the Falcon hit it with a HARM missile.

F-16s are still active in counter-insurgency missions, and a number of F-16 pilots have been awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross]] for missions over Iraq.<ref>[http://www.f-16.net/news_topic149.html F-16 Conflict News]</ref>  The most famous action of the war that involved the Fighting Falcon was the 2006 strike that assassinated Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, then the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.<ref>[http://www.famousplanes.info/f-16-fighting-falcon.php FamousPlanes.info: Fighting Falcon]</ref>

F-16s are still active in counter-insurgency missions, and a number of F-16 pilots have been awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross]] for missions over Iraq.<ref>[http://www.f-16.net/news_topic149.html F-16 Conflict News]</ref>  The most famous action of the war that involved the Fighting Falcon was the 2006 strike that assassinated Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, then the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.<ref>[http://www.famousplanes.info/f-16-fighting-falcon.php FamousPlanes.info: Fighting Falcon]</ref>