In a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Iranian military bases in Tehran and other cities on Saturday, October 26. The attacks, which involved a significant deployment of Israeli fighter jets, targeted missile and drone facilities, effectively shutting down airspace over Iran, Syria, and Iraq.
This latest assault comes in direct response to an Iranian attack on Israel on October 1, where over 200 rockets and ballistic missiles were launched in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah’s chief, Hassan Nasrallah. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed the strikes on X, stating that they were a response to “months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel.”
Explosions were reported in Tehran, and similar blasts were heard in Karaj, a city northwest of the capital. FlightRadar24, a flight tracking site, showed no aircraft movement in the skies above Iran, Syria, and Iraq, indicating the complete shutdown of airspace in the region.
For this operation, Israel deployed its most advanced war assets, including F-35 Adir fighter jets, F-15I Ra’am ground attack jets, and F-16I Sufa air defence jets, covering a distance of approximately 2,000 kilometres. The F-35 Adir jets were also used in Israel’s July strike on Houthi militia in Yemen. Additionally, Israel deployed the ‘Rampage’ long-range, supersonic missile and the ‘Rocks’ next generation extended stand-off air-to-surface missile.
A total of 100 fighter jets executed the attacks in three waves, targeting 20 missile and drone facilities in Iran. The initial wave focused on disabling Iran’s radar and air defense systems, paving the way for subsequent strikes on military bases. The second and third waves targeted Iran’s missile and drone facilities, according to reports.
The White House was notified shortly before Israel carried out the airstrikes, as reported by American news channel Fox News. However, a US defense official told the BBC that the US had no involvement in the operation, despite being informed beforehand. This event has further heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, adding another layer of complexity to the volatile geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.