The US F-35 has entered combat for the first time, conducting its first airstrike against the Taliban in Afghanistan

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The US F-35 has entered combat for the first time, conducting its first airstrike against the Taliban in Afghanistan

F-35B joint strike fighter jet conducts aerial maneuvers

REUTERS/US Marine Corps/Handout/File Photo

F-35B joint strike fighter jet conducts aerial maneuvers

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  • A US F-35 engaged an enemy for the first time in a combat mission within the last 24 hours, CNN reported Thursday, citing three US defense officials.
  • A US Marine Corp F-35B launched from the amphibious assault ship USS Essex carried out a strike against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The US has sent the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter into combat for the first time, CNN reported Thursday, citing defense officials.

A Marine Corps F-35B launched from the amphibious assault ship USS Essex conducted an airstrike on a fixed Taliban target in Afghanistan sometime within the past 24 hours. The Essex arrived in the Middle East earlier this month, with the onboard F-35s being deployed for intelligence and surveillance operations in Somalia prior to operations in Afghanistan.

CNN's Thursday report follows an earlier post from Tuesday indicating that the F-35 could be deployed for combat within the next few days.

The most expensive weapons system in the history of the US military, the F-35 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter that has faced extensive criticism as numerous setbacks have hindered its deployment. The F-35B is designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings, giving it the ability to be deployed from assault ships like the Essex, which is smaller than modern aircraft carriers.

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The first reported F-35 combat mission was carried out by Israel in May, when Israeli Air Force (IAF) F-35A fighters participated in strikes on unspecified targets.

The Marine Corps variant - the F-35B - was the first to be declared combat ready. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni became the first overseas base to operate the F-35 last year.

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