Illustrative image. (Israeli Defense Forces)
Israel expanded its attack on Iran on June 14, launching additional strikes against the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program and military capabilities.
Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, a spokesman for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), said that over 70 Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter jets participated in overnight strikes on Tehran to achieve aerial freedom of action over the Iranian capital.
Some 40 sites were targeted, including air defense systems and related assets, according to the spokesman, who revealed that IAF fighter jets and drones flew right over Tehran for some two and a half hours while conducting the strikes overnight.
“The dozens of aircraft are flying freely over Tehran, thanks to the opening blow that removed the threat of Iranian air defense systems,” he said. “Tehran is no longer immune; the capital is exposed to Israeli strikes.
Separately, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Israeli Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar said in a published assessment that “the way to Tehran has been paved.”
“According to the plans, air force fighter jets will begin to carry out strikes on targets in Tehran,” the military added.
The IAF confirmed in another statement that its fighter jets flew over Tehran, adding that the attack on the Islamic Republic, codenamed “Operation Rising Lion,” was “advancing according to the plan” and “working well.”
In the same statement, the air force said that it is working to disrupt attempts by Iran to launch massive ballistic missile barrages on Israel, with fighter jets flying over the launch sites. As time goes on, Iran’s ability to launch missiles at Israel will be slowly degraded, it added.
A video released by the IAF shows the identification of Iranian ballistic missile launchers in Tehran, shortly before they were targeted.
Two other videos showing separate strikes on other Iranian ballistic missile launchers, which were reportedly aimed at Israel, were later released by the air force.
Early in the morning, blasts were reported at Mehrabad International Airport near Tehran, home to the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) 11 Tactical Fighter Squadron which operates MiG-29 fighter jets. Fire and heavy smoke were seen rising from the airport.
Other strikes were reported near the central city of Isfahan. The IDF later announced several critical sections at the Isfahan nuclear site, including uranium conversion infrastructure and labs, were hit. The military also denied targeting the Fordow nuclear facility, despite Iran reporting damage there.
Later in the day, more Israeli strikes hit northwestern the city of Tabriz as well as parts of the western provinces of Lorestan, Hamedan, and Kermanshah. Two people were killed in an Israeli attack on a missile site in Assadabad in western Iran, according to Iranian media.
Iran’s state TV also confirmed the death of two more senior commanders, General Gholamreza Mehrabi, deputy head of intelligence of the armed forces general staff, and General Mehdi Rabbani, deputy head of operations. It’s worth noting that some 20 commanders were killed in Israel’s opening strikes on the Islamic Republic.
In addition, the IDF revealed that it has so far assassinated nine nuclear scientists. The military identified the nine as Fereydoon Abbasi, expert in nuclear engineering; Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, expert in physics; Akbar Motalebi Zadeh, expert in chemical engineering; Saeed Barji, expert in materials engineering; Amir Hassan Fakhahi, expert in physics; Abd al-Hamid Minoushehr, expert in reactor physics; Mansour Asgari, expert in physics; Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari Daryani, expert in nuclear engineering; and Ali Bakhouei Katirimi, expert in mechanics.
All in all, the confrontation appears to be still far from over. Iran is reportedly preparing to escalate strikes on Iran. Over the past day, more than 200 ballistic missiles and 100 drones were launched by the Islamic Republic, killing three and wounding some 70 others in Israel. On the Iranian side, at least 78 people have been killed and at least 329 others have been wounded, so far.
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