Israel Details Large-Scale Air Campaign in Iran
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it conducted strikes on more than 500 targets across Iran as part of a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation. According to the IDF, approximately 200 Israeli Air Force (IAF) warplanes participated, marking what officials described as the largest coordinated flyover in the service’s history. Israel designated its campaign “Operation Roaring Lion,” while the United States referred to its involvement as “Operation Epic Fury.”
The IDF stated that the opening wave targeted dozens of sites and that hundreds of munitions were dropped on objectives including air defense systems, missile launchers, and other military infrastructure. The strikes were described as part of a broader effort to “degrade the Iranian regime” and counter what Israel characterized as existential threats. The military released video footage purportedly showing rocket launchers and drones allegedly used in attacks toward Israel.
Strategic Targets and Operational Context
Among the sites struck was a facility in Tabriz in western Iran, which Israel said was used by Iran’s surface-to-surface missile unit and had been preparing launches against Israeli civilian areas. The IDF also reported targeting an advanced SA-65 air defense system near Kermanshah.
Israeli officials indicated that leadership targets were included in the campaign, though they did not provide details regarding the outcomes of those strikes. Western Iran was identified as a focus area due to reported concentrations of missile launchers and launch infrastructure.
The operation follows a 12-day conflict in June during which Iran’s air defenses were significantly degraded. Unlike that earlier confrontation—when the United States conducted a single round of strikes near its conclusion—this latest action involved coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes from the outset.
Retaliation and Domestic Preparedness
Nationwide sirens sounded in Israel shortly after 8 a.m. local time as a precaution against potential retaliation. The Home Front Command instructed civilians to remain near shelters. By mid-morning, Iran had launched barrages of ballistic missiles toward Israeli territory, with attacks continuing throughout the day.
In response, the IDF announced the mobilization of tens of thousands of reservists. The military said it had reinforced ground forces across multiple fronts and deployed special units to enhance readiness for a range of offensive and defensive scenarios.
Conflicting Claims on Iranian Leadership
Israeli officials asserted that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in the strikes. However, neither U.S. authorities nor Iranian officials confirmed the claim. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that both Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were alive “as far as I know.”
In a nationally televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated there were “growing signs that the tyrant is no longer alive,” though no evidence was publicly presented. U.S. President Donald Trump urged the Iranian public to “take over your government,” underscoring Washington’s political messaging amid the military action.
The strikes mark the second instance in eight months in which the Trump administration has employed military force against Iran, signaling a significant escalation in U.S. involvement alongside Israel in direct operations against the Islamic Republic.
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