A video circulating online showed a rare glimpse into the Israeli military’s long-range operations: an Israeli Air Force F-16 fighter jet refueling mid-air from a Boeing 707 tanker over Syria’s Deir ez-Zor province. The footage, reportedly captured by local Syrian sources, is believed to have been taken during the return leg of Israel’s high-stakes strike on Iranian military and nuclear sites on Friday.
Deir ez-Zor, in northeastern Syria, lies along the flight path between Israel and central Iran, suggesting Syria’s airspace played a critical corridor role in the mission.
Syrian officials responded to Friday’s developments by temporarily closing national airspace until 3 pm local time “as a precautionary measure” amid the heightened conflict.
While neither Israel nor Syria has officially confirmed the video’s authenticity, the apparent aerial refueling underscores the complex logistics behind Israel's long-range strike capability, particularly over 2,000 kilometers into Iranian territory and back.
Meanwhile, global airlines cancelled flights to Tel Aviv, Tehran and other Middle East destinations, or rerouted planes.
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