The acquisition includes advanced F-35 Lightning II jets and upgraded F-15IA aircraft, aimed at strengthening Israel’s long-term air superiority and expanding its operational capacity amid heightened regional tensions.

The Defense Ministry said the agreement received final authorization after completing the required approval process, marking one of the country’s largest recent military procurement decisions.

The purchase comes as Israel continues military operations across multiple fronts, including ongoing tensions involving Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon and regional security threats linked to broader instability in the Middle East.

The F-35, produced by Lockheed Martin, is considered one of the world’s most advanced stealth fighter platforms, designed for precision strike missions, intelligence gathering and electronic warfare.

The F-15IA, based on Boeing’s advanced F-15 platform and customized for Israeli operational needs, is expected to enhance long-range strike capability and payload flexibility.

Defense officials have repeatedly emphasized the need to preserve Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region, particularly as neighboring actors expand missile programs, drone capabilities and air defense systems.The latest procurement also reinforces long-standing strategic defense ties between Israel and the United States, where military aid and defense cooperation remain central pillars of bilateral relations.

Washington has consistently supported Israel’s modernization of its air force through joint defense agreements, foreign military financing and access to advanced weapons systems.The scale of the deal reflects both immediate operational demands and longer-term strategic planning as Israel adapts its force structure to increasingly complex regional security challenges.

Syrian state TV, citing local sources, said the Jordanian army had likely targeted a headquarters in the village of Shahba that contained weapons and narcotics controlled by rebel groups in the Druze-majority province of Sweida, where large areas remain outside the full control of Damascus.

The report said the strike focused on facilities allegedly used for storing drugs and arms, reflecting ongoing concerns over smuggling routes operating through southern Syria toward Jordan and the wider Gulf region.

In a separate statement, the Jordanian army confirmed it had carried out what it described as a “deterrent operation” against multiple locations used by arms and drug traffickers along the kingdom’s northern border.It did not specify the exact sites targeted or provide casualty figures.

Local sources told an AFP correspondent that a series of airstrikes struck at least five locations, including warehouses in the town of Arman, another area in southern Syria believed to be linked to trafficking activity.

Jordan has repeatedly accused armed groups and smuggling networks operating in southern Syria of using the border region to move large quantities of narcotics, particularly captagon, as well as weapons into Jordanian territory.

Amman has increasingly adopted a more aggressive military posture in recent years, including cross-border raids and airstrikes, arguing that the scale of trafficking has become a national security threat.Sweida province, with its complex tribal dynamics and limited central state authority, has remained a sensitive zone for both Syrian authorities and neighboring Jordan, particularly as security vacuums have enabled illicit trade networks to expand.

The latest strikes come amid wider regional efforts to stabilize southern Syria while containing the spread of organized smuggling operations linked to armed factions and local militias.