AL DHAFRA AIR BASE, United Arab Emirates — F-35A Lightning IIs from the active-duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing currently deployed to the Middle East flew their first sortie April 26.

They later conducted an air strike at Wadi Ashai, Iraq, in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve on April 30. The strike marked the F-35A’s first combat mission.