Israel showed off its new F-35 stealth fighter jets recently delivered from the United States on Tuesday as part of an air show marking its annual Independence Day celebrations. Three of Israel's five stealth fighters took to the skies along the Mediterranean coast off Tel Aviv as thousands of people gathered at the waterfront to watch.

They also flew over other cities including Jerusalem. The F-35s, made by US-based Lockheed Martin, were the highlight of the show, which marked 69 years of Israeli independence. The event also included aircraft such as the F-15 and F-16 jets, Sikorsky CH-53 Stallion helicopters, a KC-135 Stratotanker Boeing 707, and the Hawker-Beechcraft T-6 Texan II planes.

Israel has received the initial five F-35s since December with the aim of allowing it to maintain its military superiority in the turbulent Middle East, particularly regarding its arch-foe Iran. It plans to purchase a total of 50 F-35s. Its first jets are to be operational this year.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2017