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The MiG-21 was the premier air superiority fighter in the Arab air forces from the mid-60s to the early 80s, and was prominent in the [[Six Day War]], the War of Attrition, the [[Yom Kippur War]], and the 1982 fighting in Lebanon.  The MiG-21 was equal to the most advanced [[Israel]]i fighter of the time, the Mirage III, and Israeli intelligence placed a high priority on obtaining one for analysis.  On August 12, 1966, a Christian [[Iraq]]i pilot flew his MiG-21F to Israel in a defection arranged by a Mossad agent.  The MiG was used in dis-similar combat training with Israeli Mirages, allowing the pilots to learn about the Soviet plane’s strengths and weaknesses.  This training proved its worth on April 7, 1967, during fighting between Syrian and Israeli forces in the Golan Heights.  An air battle developed between Israeli fighters and twelve Syrian MiG-21s, resulting in six MiGs downed for no loss to the Israelis.<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/migtheft.html Stealing a Soviet MiG]</ref>

The MiG-21 was the premier air superiority fighter in the Arab air forces from the mid-60s to the early 80s, and was prominent in the [[Six Day War]], the War of Attrition, the [[Yom Kippur War]], and the 1982 fighting in Lebanon.  The MiG-21 was equal to the most advanced [[Israel]]i fighter of the time, the Mirage III, and Israeli intelligence placed a high priority on obtaining one for analysis.  On August 12, 1966, a Christian [[Iraq]]i pilot flew his MiG-21F to Israel in a defection arranged by a Mossad agent.  The MiG was used in dis-similar combat training with Israeli Mirages, allowing the pilots to learn about the Soviet plane’s strengths and weaknesses.  This training proved its worth on April 7, 1967, during fighting between Syrian and Israeli forces in the Golan Heights.  An air battle developed between Israeli fighters and twelve Syrian MiG-21s, resulting in six MiGs downed for no loss to the Israelis.<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/migtheft.html Stealing a Soviet MiG]</ref>

In the [[Six Day War]], the initial strikes destroyed most of Egypt’s MiGs on the ground, and the few that were able to get airborne were outnumbered and usually outflown.  Six MiG-21s were lost in aerial combat on the first day, and they downed only one aircraft in return, an Israeli Mirage.  The Syrian Air Force had the advantage of warning, since attacks on Syrian airfields weren’t scheduled to take place until the afternoon, and the war on the eastern front began when Syrian MiG-17s struck the oil refinery at [[Haifa]] at around 1100 hours, with [[MiG-19]]s and MiG-21s as escorts.  The strike had only limited success, and two Frescoes were downed by ground fire.  In spite of a combat air patrol over Syrian airfields, the Israeli strikes went ahead as scheduled and destroyed over half the Syrian Air Force’s planes.  With the IAF in almost complete control of the air, Egyptian and Syrian MiGs were used in mainly ineffectual hit-and-run attacks for the rest of the war.<ref name=”Arab”>''Arab MiG-19 and MiG-21 Units in Combat'', by David Nicolle and Tom Cooper, Osprey Publishing, 2004</ref>

In the [[Six Day War]], the initial strikes destroyed most of Egypt’s MiGs on the ground, and the few that were able to get airborne were outnumbered and usually outflown.  Six MiG-21s were lost in aerial combat on the first day, and they downed only one aircraft in return, an Israeli Mirage.  The Syrian Air Force had the advantage of warning, since attacks on Syrian airfields weren’t scheduled to take place until the afternoon, and the war on the eastern front began when Syrian MiG-17s struck the oil refinery at [[Haifa]] at around 1100 hours, with [[MiG-19]]s and MiG-21s as escorts.  The strike had only limited success, and two Frescoes were downed by ground fire.  In spite of a combat air patrol over Syrian airfields, the Israeli strikes went ahead as scheduled and destroyed over half the Syrian Air Force’s planes.  With the IAF in almost complete control of the air, Egyptian and Syrian MiGs were used in mainly ineffectual hit-and-run attacks for the rest of the war.<ref name="Arab">''Arab MiG-19 and MiG-21 Units in Combat'', by David Nicolle and Tom Cooper, Osprey Publishing, 2004</ref>

===Iran-Iraq War===

===Iran-Iraq War===

In early 1981, with French help, the Iraqis revised their tactics and modified their Fishbeds to carry French-built Matra heat-seeking missiles (The Soviet-built Atolls that the MiGs usually carried were notoriously unreliable).  In April, the Iraqis began an aggressive air campaign with MiG-23s and the updated MiG-21s.  Within a week, the MiGs had downed five Iranian aircraft, including two Phantoms, for the loss of one Fishbed.  The next week resulted in four more kills for one MiG lost, and the Iraqis had achieved local air superiority, much to the surprise of the Iranian Air Force high command.  The situation changed, however, when Iran redeployed F-14s to the area.  Iran’s Tomcats were vastly superior to the improved MiGs, and the IrAF was forced back on the defensive.

In early 1981, with French help, the Iraqis revised their tactics and modified their Fishbeds to carry French-built Matra heat-seeking missiles (The Soviet-built Atolls that the MiGs usually carried were notoriously unreliable).  In April, the Iraqis began an aggressive air campaign with MiG-23s and the updated MiG-21s.  Within a week, the MiGs had downed five Iranian aircraft, including two Phantoms, for the loss of one Fishbed.  The next week resulted in four more kills for one MiG lost, and the Iraqis had achieved local air superiority, much to the surprise of the Iranian Air Force high command.  The situation changed, however, when Iran redeployed F-14s to the area.  Iran’s Tomcats were vastly superior to the improved MiGs, and the IrAF was forced back on the defensive.

The Soviets were slow in replacing Iraqi losses, so Iraq turned to China and its J-7 fighter, which was very basic, but cheap, and allowed the Iraqi Air Force to build back its strength.  In response, Russia began supplying the superior MiG-21bis. However, even the best Fishbeds were not going win control of the sky back from Iran, and the MiG-21 was edged out by more advanced planes from Russia and France, although it continued to play a role through the end of the war.

The Soviets were slow in replacing Iraqi losses, so Iraq turned to China and its J-7 fighter, which was very basic, but cheap, and allowed the Iraqi Air Force to build back its strength.  In response, Russia began supplying the superior MiG-21bis. However, even the best Fishbeds were not going win control of the sky back from Iran, and the MiG-21 was edged out by more advanced planes from Russia and France, although it continued to play a role through the end of the war.<ref name="Arab"/>

===Desert Storm===

===Desert Storm===

By the time of the [[Gulf War]], MiG-21s still made up a significant portion of the Iraqi Air Force, and were involved in at least one serious attempt to counter the American air strikes.  On January 17, 1991, the first day of the war, Fishbeds went aloft to stop a strike by US Navy planes.  Four MiGs acted as decoys, successfully drawing the attention of the escorting F-14s, while two others attempted to hit the strike planes.  Unfortunately for them, they ran into a section of US Navy [[F/A-18 Hornet|Hornets]], and both were shot down.  The Hornet pilots hadn’t even jettisoned their bombs for the engagement, and went on to complete their part of the attack mission.

By the time of the [[Gulf War]], MiG-21s still made up a significant portion of the Iraqi Air Force, and were involved in at least one serious attempt to counter the American air strikes.  On January 17, 1991, the first day of the war, Fishbeds went aloft to stop a strike by US Navy planes.  Four MiGs acted as decoys, successfully drawing the attention of the escorting F-14s, while two others attempted to hit the strike planes.  Unfortunately for them, they ran into a section of US Navy [[F/A-18 Hornet|Hornets]], and both were shot down.  The Hornet pilots hadn’t even jettisoned their bombs for the engagement, and went on to complete their part of the attack mission.<ref name="Arab"/>

After the first days, resistance by the IrAF markedly decreased.  On February 6, 1991, F-15 pilot Captain Thomas Dietz of the 53rd Fighter Squadron shot down two MiG-21s that were trying to escape to Iran.<ref>''F-15C Eagle Units in Combat'', by Steve Davies, Osprey Publishing, 2005</ref>

After the first days, resistance by the IrAF markedly decreased.  On February 6, 1991, F-15 pilot Captain Thomas Dietz of the 53rd Fighter Squadron shot down two MiG-21s that were trying to escape to Iran.<ref>''F-15C Eagle Units in Combat'', by Steve Davies, Osprey Publishing, 2005</ref>