The Israeli military has appointed its first woman to command an air force squadron.

The officer, who for security reasons has been named only as “Tet” – the first Hebrew letter of her name – is to take the rank of lieutenant colonel and will be responsible for ground operations at an air base.

It is the first time a woman has been given such a senior role in the air force – the appointment comes 16 years after after Roni Zuckerman became the first Israeli woman fighter pilot.

“Lt Col ‘Tet’ will be the first female pilot to have this position and to have this rank,” the military said.

Another woman officer, named only as Major “Mem” has also been promoted to lieutenant colonel. She is the first female air traffic controller to reach this rank.

In November the air force appointed its first female deputy commander of a fighter jet.

The military announced last year that air force chief Major General Amikam Norkin had appointed two women to deputy commander positions in the military’s drone squadrons.