31 August 1984 to Saudi Arabia was examined and found to have Israeli and European spare parts installed. Another deserting F-4 was less lucky, being intercepted and shot down by Saudi F-15 Eagles on 5 June 1984. F-4s took part in interdiction missions against oil tankers using AGM-65 Maverick missiles and even AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, while bombs were not used, probably due to shortages. In the 21st century, the Iranian government still has between 50 and 75 F-4s in service. Among these, there are still some original F-4Ds updated with improved avionics, including limited look-down radar. On 30 November 2014, Al Jazeera reported that an Iranian F-4 had conducted an airstrike in Iraq against Islamic State militants. The United States confirmed the attack several days later, but Iran did not confirm or deny Iranian airstrikes had taken place; both denied they coordinated any sort of air attack against IS forces in Iraq. Units Imperial Iranian Air Force Western Area Command: Nojeh (OIHH) Hamadan, Shahrokhi) 3rd Tactical Air Base 31st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron: RF-4E 32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron: F-4D and F-4E 33rd Tactical Fighter Squadron: F-4D and F-4E Southern Area Command: Bushehr (OIBB) 6th Tactical Air Base 61st Tactical Fighter Squadron: F-4E 62nd Tactical Fighter Squadron: F-4D and F-4E Bandar Abbas Int'l (OIKB) 9th Tactical Air Base 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron: F-4E 92nd Tactical Fighter Squadron: F-4E Chah Bahar (OIZC) (Chabahar) 10th Tactical Air Base 101st Tactical Fighter Squadron: F-4D Israel Israel first expressed interest in the F-4 in 1965, but the U.S. was unwilling to provide them at that time. However, due to the embargo imposed by France after the Israeli preemptive strike during the 1967 Six-Day War, the U.S. government reconsidered and decided to offer the Israelis the aircraft. The first aircraft delivered were F-4Es, provided under the "Peace Echo" program, authorized on 7 January 1968, by president Lyndon Johnson, and supported by Senator Robert F. Kennedy. About 220 F-4Es and RF-4Es were delivered to Israel between 1969 and 1976 under U.S. aid programs, and served with the Tsvah Haganah le Israel/Heyl Ha'Avir (Israeli Air Force). The F-4E was known as Kurnass (Heavy Hammer) in Israeli service while the RF-4E was called Orev (Raven). Formal acceptance of the first F-4Es came on 5 September 1969, with Golda Meir and Moshe Dayan present for the ceremony. By 22 October, the new aircraft were in operation, attacking Egyptian targets. On