While the F-16 is an American-made plane, U.S. forces were not the first to give the venerable warbird her first test in combat, nor was it the Dutch or the Iraqis.
The state requested a temporary order to prevent the sale of a control stick from an Israeli warplane that took part in the mission to bomb Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor.
When the wreckage was examined, both were found to be of types never supplied to an Arab nation, not Saudi Arabia, not anyone. The only “buyer” in the region for that type of plane is Israel.
Pilots who flew 1981 Osirak bombing raid divided on sale of part from F-16 being offered by anonymous owner; one says its 'sad,' but mission commander doesn't object