Originally Posted by
KenV
The air distance from Israel to international airspace in the Persian Gulf is about 790 miles. Let's call it 800. That's well within the range of an F-35. Once tanked in the Persian Gulf, an F-35 can reach most of Iran and return to the Gulf to get tanked again. And that assumes the Israelis don't have any stealthy fuel tanks. If the Israelis have developed stealthy external tanks, or developed tanks that can fit inside the F-35's weapons bay, the equation could be very different.
Further, some "friend" might provide air cover for the Israeli tanker when it's in the Persian Gulf airspace. Maybe an Aegis ship. Maybe a carrier. Maybe both.
Where's Carol Voderman when you, er, need her?