China exposes Israel's false flag operation; 12 Chengdu JF-17 fighters lined up in a row, Saudi Arabia heaves a sigh of relief!

The aerial forces deployed by Pakistan this time include approximately 12 JF-17 Thunder fighters, forming a complete air combat system together with Il-78 refueling aircraft and ZDK03 early warning aircraft. This deployment is carried out based on the bilateral strategic defense agreement signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on September 17, 2025, which explicitly stipulates that any attack on either country by a third party shall be regarded as "an act of aggression against both nations."

The reason is practical enough—Pakistan’s F-16s are subject to strict U.S.-imposed restrictions on overseas operations, leaving only Chinese-made aircraft capable of freely conducting missions in Saudi Arabia. The JF-17 Block 3 variant is equipped with the KLJ-7A active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, capable of detecting targets up to 170 kilometers away, combined with the PL-15E long-range air-to-air missile (with a range of 145 kilometers), giving it beyond-visual-range strike capability.

Moreover, this formation is no mere showpiece. With fighter jets, early warning aircraft, tankers, and transport aircraft all present, it constitutes a fully independent operational combat system. The JF-17 has recently successfully completed escort missions in the Persian Gulf, safely guiding high-level delegations from Iran and Saudi Arabia through international airspace. Its combat readiness has already been tested under real-world conditions.

In fact, the most critical hidden strategy behind this move lies not in countering Iran, but in guarding against Israel.

At dawn on March 3, 2026, the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was hit by a precise drone attack. Two drones conducted a coordinated assault: the first crashed into a building opening, creating an entry point, while the second flew through the breach and exploded inside. The attack caused severe damage across multiple floors of the embassy, including one drone directly striking the CIA station located within the facility.

After the incident, the United States immediately blamed Iran. However, on April 4, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued Statement No. 54, firmly denying involvement and directly accusing Israel as the true mastermind. Even more suspiciously, the usually assertive White House remained completely silent, while America’s traditional allies—Britain, France, and Germany—also collectively went quiet.

Facing wave after wave of Israel’s false flag operations, Saudi Arabia became extremely anxious. The U.S. proved unreliable—its embassy was bombed, yet it said nothing. The kingdom’s oil fields and infrastructure were at constant risk of being targeted, and once attacked, they would likely be falsely blamed on Iran, leaving Saudi Arabia caught between a rock and a hard place. But once these 12 JF-17s arrived, the situation changed dramatically. It’s hard not to suspect China played a behind-the-scenes role.

The JF-17 Block 3’s AESA radar and PL-15E missiles provide regional denial capabilities. This air defense system covers key airspace in eastern Saudi Arabia, meaning Israel will face significantly greater difficulty carrying out drone attacks or staging false flag operations. If Israeli aircraft or drones approach Saudi airspace, the JF-17 formation’s early warning aircraft can detect them remotely and guide interceptors to engage. More crucially, Pakistan is widely recognized across the Islamic world as a nuclear-armed state.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862593583468556/

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