TEL AVIV, Israel (Chatnewstv.com) — The Israeli military says it has achieved full aerial superiority from western Iran to Tehran after carrying out more than 900 coordinated airstrikes over five days, targeting Iranian air defenses, military leaders, and key nuclear infrastructure.
“This is a masterful feat of planning and execution, years in the making,” said Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, IDF Spokesperson to International Media, in a statement released Wednesday.
The large-scale operation, dubbed Rising Lion, peaked on the night of June 13 when more than 200 Israeli fighter jets launched precision strikes on over 100 sites across Iran, including alleged hideouts of senior Iranian military officials.
“In the first 24 hours, we struck over 40 air defense systems,” Shoshani said. “By the morning of June 14, we had established aerial superiority over Tehran.”
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said the campaign was made possible by years of joint intelligence mapping and targeting work, particularly focused on Iran’s surface-to-air missile (SAM) network and its support infrastructure.
Major General Tomer Bar, Commander of the Israeli Air Force, said Iranian SAM systems were “concealed within civilian infrastructure” and equipped with advanced tracking and interception capabilities.
“The purpose of this array is to down IAF aircraft and disrupt their operations,” Bar said. “That threat has now been significantly degraded.”
According to IDF estimates, the operation eliminated or disabled:
Over 70 Iranian air defense missile batteries
More than 20 senior military commanders
Key nuclear facilities, including sites in Natanz and Isfahan
A third of Iran’s surface-to-surface ballistic missile launchers
Israel also said it has neutralized several nuclear scientists involved in Iran’s suspected weapons program.
The IDF released video footage showing an Iranian crew preparing to launch an Emad ballistic missile before being struck mid-operation. The clip, dated between June 17 and 18, was offered as proof of continued Israeli air dominance.
Despite the success, Israel acknowledged the risks remain high. One Israeli drone was downed during operations earlier Wednesday. “No personnel were harmed and there is no risk of information breach,” the military said.
“Right now, at this very moment, we’re hunting surface-to-surface missiles; our UAVs are out there, our fighter jets are out there,” said IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi. “It’s absolutely extraordinary — 1,500 kilometers from Israel.”
The conflict, ignited by months of escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, has now entered a new phase, with Israeli officials claiming an unprecedented strategic advantage in Iranian airspace.
Iran has yet to issue a full response, though state media has confirmed strikes on multiple military installations and promised retaliation.
Editor: Gabriel Ani
