Video: Did the Air Force use F-117 Night Hawks to attack ISIS in 2017?

Did the U.S. Air Force bring the F-117 Night Hawk stealth bomber out of retirement to take out Islamic State targets over Syria in 2017?

The latest AirPower video explores the rumors circulating around the use of the F-117 Night Hawk, the first operational stealth strategic bomber, against targets in the Middle East.

“This week, we’re going delve deeper in how these operations over Syria might have really played out,” Alex Hollings, Sandboxx News editor-in-chief and host of AirPower on YouTube, said in his latest video.

According to Scramble Magazine, back in 2017, the Air Force took out of retirement at least four F-117 Night Hawks and used them in combat operations over Iraq and Syria. Moreover, Scramble said that one of the F-117 Night Hawks was involved in an in-flight emergency and was forced to land in an undisclosed air base.

“There [is] at least a good reason for these Night Hawks to get back into combat. Despite retiring 16 years ago now, F-117s are still actively flying in combat exercises over the U.S., playing the roles of adversary stealth fighters and even low-observable cruise missiles against a variety of in-service fighters,” Hollings added.

The Air Force has approximately 45 F-117 Night Hawks in reserve.

If you want to learn more about the F-117 Night Hawk and its rumored combat break from retirement, make sure to watch the latest episode of AirPower above.

Feature Image: A U.S. Air Force F-117 Nighthawk prepares to land during Northern Edge 23-1 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 10, 2023. Northern Edge 23-1 provides an opportunity for joint, multinational and multi-domain operations designed to implement high-end, realistic war fighter training, develop and improve joint interoperability, and enhance the combat readiness of participating forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Moises Vasquez)