JERUSALEM – Israel’s military has claimed responsibility for more than 900 airstrikes on Iranian targets since the beginning of a dramatic new phase in their conflict, dubbed “Operation Rising Lion.”
According to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the operation resulted in the deaths of 11 Iranian nuclear scientists and 30 senior security officials, including three top commanders.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that the announcement marks one of the most extensive Israeli military campaigns targeting Iranian infrastructure and leadership in recent history.
The IDF claims it successfully neutralized 200 missile launchers, representing nearly half of Iran’s total launcher capacity, and also destroyed aircraft and facilities linked to missile and weapons production.
According to the military, this prevented the manufacture of “thousands of additional missiles.”
CNN, which first reported the statement from Israel, noted that it could not independently verify these claims.
Among the high-profile casualties previously reported are Iran’s top military officer, the head of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), and the commander of its air force. The loss of such figures suggests a significant blow to Iran’s strategic military command structure.
In a separate interview aired Thursday on Channel 13, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant revealed that while no opportunity arose to target Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Israel would have “taken him out” if circumstances had allowed.
The remarks underscore the severity and scope of the military campaign, which has not only heightened tensions between the two long-standing adversaries but also drawn intense global attention.
While Iranian officials have yet to provide a comprehensive response to the IDF’s claims, the sheer scale of the alleged operations points to a rapidly escalating conflict with significant regional and international implications.
Observers say the situation could further inflame the already volatile Middle East, as concerns grow over the potential for retaliation and broader confrontation involving global powers.
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