F-22 Raptors Were Used For The First Time In A Combat Role During Last Nights U.S. Airstrikes In Syria

Report: F-22 Raptors Launched Airstrikes In Syria -- Defense Tech

U.S. Air Force F-22 stealth fighter jets were part of the opening wave of American-led airstrikes in Syria against the Islamic State, according to a news report.

Julian Barnes of The Wall Street Journal included that dramatic bit of information in his story about the rapidly evolving military mission against the al-Qaeda-inspired terrorist group:

Using Navy Tomahawk cruise missiles and Air Force fighter planes, including stealthy F-22s, the U.S. carried out plans for strikes against more than a dozen targets inside portions of Syria controlled by Islamic State militants, officials said.


The stealthy, highly maneuverable plane was likely used to penetrate and attack the country’s sophisticated Russian-made air defenses, among other targets.

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Update: ABC News is also reporting that F-22s were used:

The stealth F-22 Raptor took part in the mission, a U.S. defense official said, marking the first time the pricey, controversial aircraft has been used in a combat operation. 

Update #2: More details on last nights airstrikes are now becoming known ...

The United States and its Arab partners used "a mix of fighter, bomber, remotely piloted aircraft and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles" to conduct the 14 strikes against ISIS targets, Centcom said.

"The United States employed 47 TLAMs launched from USS Arleigh Burke and USS Philippine Sea operating from international waters in the Red Sea and North Arabian Gulf, as well as U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps fighter, remotely piloted and bomber aircraft deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of operations," Centcom said.