Illustrative image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)
Israel used the United States-controlled airspace of Iraq to launch its attack against Iran on October 26, the Iranian military revealed.
“In a clear aggression and against the international laws, warplanes of the Zionist enemy on Saturday used Iraqi airspace that is under control of the terrorist army of the U.S. to fire a number of air-launched long-range missiles, towards a number of border radars in Ilam and Khuzestan province and around Tehran province,” the ministry said in a statement, adding missiles that had been fired 100 km away from the Iranian airspace had warheads with a weight of one fifth of the weight of the warheads of Iran’s ballistic missiles.
The military also acknowledged that Iranian radar units suffered “minor and ineffective” damage as a result of the Israeli attack, noting that all radar units have either been repaired or are being re-serviced.
“A significant number of the missiles were traced and intercepted and the enemy’s planes were blocked from entering the country’s airspace,” it added.
Concluding, the military said that Iran reserves the right to respond to the “Israeli aggression” at an appropriate time, adding that the country reiterates the need for a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon to prevent the massacre of innocent people in those regions.
The Israeli attack on Iran was a response to the October 1 large-scale missile strike on Israel. The attack was carried out in several waves over the course of several hours.
During the attack, Syrian state media reported that Israel struck several military sites in the south and center of the country. Israeli fighter jets were also spotted over Jordan.
The first wave of the attack reportedly targeted Iran’s air defense capabilities, while the second hit drone and ballistic missile manufacturing sites, as well as sites used to launch such weapons. Some 100 aircraft of the Israeli Air Force took part in the attack, which the Israeli military dubbed “Days of Repentance.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a statement posted to X, mourned four officers who were killed in the attack, warning against future escalation by Israel.
“Enemies of Iran should know these brave people are standing fearlessly in defense of their land and will respond to any stupidity with tact and intelligence,” Pezeshkian writes.
Israel’s use of Iraqi airspace during the attack on Iran was confirmed by Iraqi media. The wreckage of a secretive Israeli air-launched two-stage ballistic missile was found in the northern province of Saladin. Video footage of the wreckage was posted to social networks.
The secretive missile, which was first spotted during the April 19 Israeli attack on Iran, appears to be a derivative of Israel’s Sparrow family of air-launched target missiles, which were initially developed to mimic ballistic missiles and test anti-missile systems.
The missile in question may be the “Golden Horizon” air-launched ballistic missile named in a recently leaked U.S. intelligence report on Israeli preparations to attack Iran. The missile is thought to have a maximum range of around 2,000 kilometers.
It is unclear what other weapons Israel used during the attack on Iran, although a report by The New York Times suggests that drones were employed.
Video footage of the attack released by the Israeli military showed fighter jets taking off with just air-to-air missiles and external fuel tanks.
While Israel managed to hit targets in Iran, the full extent of damage the Islamic Republic took remains unclear. Any response by Iran could lead to a serious escalation. At the same time, the lack of response could encourage Israel to escalate even further. Due to the complexity of the situation, the Iranian leadership will likely take time before making a decision.
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