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Israel attacks Iran: full debriefing

Posted on by Pranco
Israel attacks Iran: full debriefing

Everything you need to know about last night’s Israeli attack on Iran.

Israel launched direct attacks on Iran on the night of Friday, October 25 to Saturday, October 26, 2024, in a major counterattack after Tehran’s ballistic missile offensive earlier in the month. As concerns grow that long-standing tensions between these two military powers could escalate into a full-scale regional conflict, here is a full summary of how the operation unfolded.

Summary

The Israeli army reported hitting “precise” military targets in Iran, while Iranian state media shared reports of multiple explosions. Israeli sources clarified that these attacks did not target energy facilities. Iranian state media said military sites in three provinces (Tehran, Ilam and Khuzestan) were hit, although they claimed air defenses kept damage “limited.” Israeli officials noted that this attack also involved Iran’s military assets F-35I Adir stealth aircraft and came after weeks of intense discussions in the Israeli security cabinet, taking into account both the timing and scale of the response.

More details

In the early hours of Saturday, just after 2 a.m. local time, Tehran and several nearby military installations were rocked by hours of explosions, as Israeli forces launched direct attacks against Iran. Israeli state broadcasters later confirmed that three waves of attacks had been carried out before dawn, officially concluding the operation. The second and third waves mainly targeted Iranian production sites for drones and missiles.

According to Israeli media reports, the 2,000-kilometer attack involved more than 100 aircraft, including F-35I Adir stealth fighters and drones. While the US was informed prior to the attacks in Iran, but was not involved in the operation.

The attack was declared over at 5:45 a.m. Israeli time (6:15 a.m. Iranian standard time), just as the sun rose over Tehran.

While specific details about the airstrike are still scarce beyond official statements, it seems highly likely that the first wave involved a combination of unmanned aerial vehicles and remotely-delivered precision-guided munitions, supplemented by robust electronic warfare and cyber capabilities, both areas in which Israel has been involved. previous operations consistently demonstrated high proficiency. Harnessing these non-kinetic capabilities would have effectively neutralized or “blinded” Iranian air defenses, giving Israeli assets a wider operational window and greater freedom to navigate Iranian airspace to attack their targets with minimal risk. Furthermore, given the sophistication of these tactics, it is possible that the attack did not require deep penetration into Iranian airspace, but instead relied on precision strikes from safe distances.

Iran downplayed the attack, with Iranian officials stating that their air defenses had successfully intercepted some Israeli attacks on military targets in Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam provinces. According to Iranian sources, despite the scale of the operation, they managed to keep the damage relatively limited.

But even as the Iranian media works hard to maintain an image of normality, the consequences for both countries are undeniable, with this latest attack marking the first time since the Iran-Iraq War that Tehran has been directly hit , which poses a real challenge to the regime’s claims.

In announcing this attack, the Israeli military stated that it had deliberately attacked key Iranian military locations in direct response to repeated attacks from Tehran. They called the strikes “precise” and “targeted,” aiming to make clear that Israel would not sit idly by while groups affiliated with Iran continue their attacks. The statement further confirmed that the airstrikes focused on facilities related to missile production and anti-aircraft missile capabilities.

After the attacks, Israeli officials indicated that they had successfully completed the mission and that all aircraft had returned safely to their bases. Importantly, Israel clarified that their attacks avoided both energy infrastructure and nuclear sites in Iran, possibly out of caution for broader international consequences. US President Joe Biden had advised Israel against attacking Iran’s nuclear sites, energy infrastructure or oil fields to avoid involving other countries or sparking a wider conflict. According to a senior US official, the administration hopes that these recent “targeted and proportionate attacks” will put an end to any direct fire between Israel and Iran for the time being. However, the US also remains prepared to intervene and support Israel if Iran retaliates.

Meanwhile, Iranian media broadcast images showing intense anti-aircraft fire lighting up the skies over central Tehran, although they did not specify which specific locations were attacked. After a brief pause in air traffic during the attacks, Iranian authorities resumed flights at 9 a.m., as did neighboring Iraq. Syria’s state news agency SANA reported that Israeli airstrikes had also hit military targets in Syria’s central and southern regions, although Israel did not comment on these reports.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and top security officials closely monitored the operation from Tel Aviv’s military command center. Secretary of Defense Gallant also interacted with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who reinforced the US commitment to supporting Israel and defending US assets in the Middle East. Although Washington was aware of Israel’s intentions in advance, they were reportedly not involved in the actual operation, despite moving more assets into the region. In that respect, it made some noise with the deployment of the F-16s of the 480th Fighter Squadron, based in Spangdahlem AB, assets specialized in SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses).

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is currently looking for ways to de-escalate in the Middle East, noted on Wednesday that Israel’s counterattack should prevent a broader escalation, indicating the desire of the United States to prevent the situation from escalating further.

To further support Israel in light of these latest developments, President Biden decided to deploy the US THAAD anti-missile defense system to Israeli territory, along with approximately 100 US personnel to operate it. This system is an important addition to Israel’s already robust missile defense capabilities, providing the country with greater protection if Iran or an Iranian-affiliated group decides to respond. This move signals to both Israel and Iran that the US remains deeply invested in their Middle East alliances and will continue to assist in Israel’s defense if further escalation occurs.

Meanwhile, the immediate situation remains tense, with many across the region wondering what Iran’s next move could be. Iranian officials have repeatedly warned Israel against any form of attack, underscoring that “Iran reserves the right to respond to any form of aggression.” Semi-official Iranian news sources have hinted that Israel could expect a “proportionate response” if hostilities continue. At the same time, a senior Biden official underlined that Washington hopes this latest round of “targeted and proportionate” strikes will conclude the back-and-forth firefight between the two countries, and that any escalation beyond that could have significant consequences. for both.

For a detailed chronological account of the operation I would suggest checking out the following excellent X-thread from our friend and collaborator Evergreen Intel (@vcdgf555).