Changes

Israel acquired F-16s for its air force in 1978, and their most well-known combat mission was the raid on the Iraqi Osirak nuclear reactor on June 7, 1981, carried out by eight Falcons flown by elite pilots.  The target was destroyed without any hits on the bombers or their escorts, and it was one of the most successful bombing missions in aviation history.  After the attack, Israel was thought to have used guided munitions because the strikes were so accurate.  In fact, the strike had been carried out with unguided bombs.  The skill of the pilots, and the sophistication of the F-16s’ targeting computers, was that good.

Israel acquired F-16s for its air force in 1978, and their most well-known combat mission was the raid on the Iraqi Osirak nuclear reactor on June 7, 1981, carried out by eight Falcons flown by elite pilots.  The target was destroyed without any hits on the bombers or their escorts, and it was one of the most successful bombing missions in aviation history.  After the attack, Israel was thought to have used guided munitions because the strikes were so accurate.  In fact, the strike had been carried out with unguided bombs.  The skill of the pilots, and the sophistication of the F-16s’ targeting computers, was that good.

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 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===