WANA (Aug 31) – During the Persian Gulf War (the Liberation of Kuwait), 24 Iraqi Mirage F-1 fighter jets fled to Iran. These jets, once serving the Iraqi Air Force, are now employed by the Iranian Air Force squadron.

 

The Story of Iraqi Fighter Jets Fleeing to Iran

With the beginning of the U.S. attack on Iraq during Operation Desert Storm, the Iraqi Air Force, which had lost a significant number of its fighters, decided to relocate the remaining aircraft to safer areas.

 

Under Saddam Hussein’s orders, 142 Iraqi aircraft and fighters fled to Iran. Despite numerous challenges, including the inability to establish radio communication and coping with severe stress and anxiety, Iraqi pilots successfully transferred many of their military and civilian aircraft to Iran.

 

Aircraft belonging to Iraqi Airways were also moved to various Iranian airports.

 

This operation took place in two phases: in the first phase, about 80 fighter jets sought refuge in Iran, and in the following days, approximately 40 more were transferred to the country. Of these, 130 jets managed to land safely in Iran, and Iran confiscated 95 of them as part of war reparations from Iraq.

 

This operation was surprising for the coalition forces, who had expected the Iraqi fighters to flee to friendly countries like Jordan. Iran seized these aircraft as war trophies and used many of them in its air force.

 

By 2014, Iran had returned 88 of these aircraft to Iraq, but some of them remained in Iran’s possession. This event played a significant role in the history of aerial warfare and demonstrated critical strategic decisions during pivotal moments of the war.