IDF Returns Safely After Massive Strike Eliminates Iranian Military Leadership

In a historic and sweeping military operation, Israeli Air Force fighter jets returned safely home after launching a devastating assault deep inside Iran, targeting its nuclear infrastructure and eliminating the top echelon of Iran’s military leadership. The overnight mission, dubbed “Rising Lion,” marks one of the most comprehensive Israeli strikes in modern history.

Guided by precise intelligence from the IDF Intelligence Directorate, over 200 Israeli fighter jets struck more than 100 targets across Iran. Among the most significant achievements of the operation was the complete destruction of dozens of radars and surface-to-air missile launchers, crippling Iran’s aerial defense network in western Iran.

The Israeli strikes eliminated several of Iran’s most senior military figures:

• Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces

• Hossein Salami, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

• Gholam-Ali Rashid, Commander of Khatam al-Anbiya (Emergency Command)

• Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Commander of the IRGC Air Force

• Davoud Shaykhian, Commander of the IRGC Aerial Command

“These commanders were directly responsible for repeated attacks on Israeli civilians, including recent missile and drone attacks launched by Iran,” the IDF stated. Hajizadeh, in particular, had been a vocal advocate for Israel’s destruction and was instrumental in developing Iran’s nuclear weapons program and missile arsenal.

The assault was launched following rising concerns that Iran was nearing full nuclear capability. “We are entering a campaign that is no less than existential, against an enemy that seeks to destroy us,” said Major General Shlomi Binder, head of the IDF Intelligence Directorate. “This is the threat we want to degrade, disrupt, and eliminate.”

Israelis were awakened in the early hours of Friday morning by air raid sirens, prompting them to shelter in fortified rooms. While many initially feared incoming missile attacks from Iranian proxies, it soon became clear that these were precautionary measures taken in anticipation of possible Iranian retaliation following the strikes.

The Home Front Command instructed citizens to remain in their safe rooms longer than usual, but later announced there was “temporary control of the incident” and that civilians could safely leave shelters. All schools, gatherings, and non-essential services were suspended as a precaution.

Throughout the day, the IDF continued its operations, including a reported strike on Tabriz International Airport in northwest Iran, further disrupting Iranian military logistics and capabilities.

Defense Minister Israel Katz declared a “special situation” across Israel, warning that retaliatory attacks from Iran could still be imminent. However, IDF spokespersons confirmed that all Israeli aircraft returned safely and that all attempted Iranian missile and UAV attacks were successfully intercepted.

Since the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre, Israel has systematically targeted Iranian proxies and aerial defense systems across the region. This latest operation marks a new level of determination to neutralize Iran’s nuclear ambitions and protect Israel’s future.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated the stakes: “The Jewish State refuses to be a victim of the nuclear Holocaust perpetrated by the Iranian regime.”

With precision, courage, and clarity of purpose, Israel has once again demonstrated its resolve to act decisively against existential threats, safeguarding not only its citizens but global stability.

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