The long-awaited Israeli attack in response to Iran’s missile attack of October 1 was over just before the sun rose in Tehran. As the initial fog over the strike, termed Operation Days of Repentance, has cleared and as the sun shines over the damage across Iran, this is what we know about the raids, so far.
Over a hundred Israeli aircraft took part in the air strikes, including the state-of-the-art F-35 fighter aircraft in service with the Israeli Air Force, according to Israeli media. Several other aircraft also took part in the operations, to include additional fighters as well as refuellers, that helped the Israeli combat planes
fly the roughly 2,000 km distance. Helicopters such as the CH-53s of the 669 unit of the Israeli Air Force, which specialises in Combat Search and Rescue, were kept ready to rescue crews in case of a contingency of any aircraft being shot down.
The raids, which according to Israeli media were authorised by the country’s Security Cabinet, targeted areas in and around Tehran, Shiraz and Karaj. The target list excluded nuclear and oil facilities. Tehran had warned Israel against targeting these facilities. The city of Karaj is home to many Iranian nuclear
facilities. It is not clear whether these facilities were attacked or not. The list of targets had allegedly been leaked before the strikes, as per news reports.
The initial Israeli attack hit air defence targets in Syria, to deny early warning to the Iranians of the impending attack and to deny Tehran a complete air-defence picture. These targets were stuck in central and southern Syria.
Reports in the media suggest that the Israelis hit targets that had a bearing on the security of the eastern Mediterranean nation. Some reports suggest that the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) were also hit.
The raids in Iran targeted sites that manufactured missiles and drones. Such weapons have been used by the Islamist regime in Tehran to target the Jewish state. Israeli jets also struck Surface to Air Missile systems in order to ensure greater freedom while operating over Iranian airspace.
Washington D.C. was informed about the operation a few hours prior to its launch. The Israelis are geared up for a response from Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. The Israeli forces say they are ready to respond to any provocation.
Dhruv Yadav
