Israeli officer says first jets entering Iran during Operation Roaring Lion faced high risk

The officer said the opening stage of the operation focused on destroying an Iranian surface-to-surface missile formation capable of targeting Israeli population centers.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Israeli fighter jets that carried out the first strikes inside Iran during Operation Roaring Lion operated under severe risk conditions because Iranian air defenses had already been partly restored, a senior Israel Air Force officer told Walla on Monday.

“The planes that entered Iran first were at very high risk. I was there. I led the people from the air. The pilots took this risk out of a deep understanding that we would be able to attack a surface-to-surface missile squadron that could hit Israel and its citizens,” the officer said.

He said the opening stage of the operation focused on destroying an Iranian surface-to-surface missile formation capable of targeting Israeli population centers.

Pilots participating in the mission were aware they were flying into a heavily defended environment but proceeded because of the threat posed by the missile unit.

The officer said Israeli military planning assumes that the fighting could continue for an extended period and involve several regional adversaries.

“We are preparing for a long war. We are not getting tired, and our goals are clear,” he said.

He added that operational success early in the conflict cannot be taken for granted and requires continued adaptation by Israeli forces.

“The success from today can become defeats from tomorrow, so right now we are working to improve our capabilities and minimize future risks,” he said.

According to the officer, Israeli commanders are not yet conducting a formal review of the conflict because active missions remain underway.

“It’s still too early to start studying the war,” he said.

He said the immediate priority is the continuation of ongoing operations against Iranian targets.

“We have more very complex missions, and we will continue to do them without stopping,” he said.

The officer also told Walla that Israeli planners remain alert to the possibility that Iran or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could introduce new tactics or capabilities as the war progresses.

“Since the beginning of the war, we have been expecting surprises from the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” he said.

At the same time, he said Israeli pilots have so far encountered few unexpected developments in Iranian capabilities, and most sorties conducted since the conflict began have proceeded largely as planned.