On Saturday, June 21, the Israeli Defense Forces announced that as part of the “Rising Lion” operation, they conducted a overnight raid deep into the heart of Iran, targeting key military objectives, including shooting down Iranian F-14 fighter jets.
About 60 Israeli fighter jets were involved in this operation, aiming at missile storage sites, air defense systems, and radar systems in central Iran.
One Israeli jet even shot down three Iranian F-14 fighter jets. “This attack took place deep inside Iran,” said Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson Effie Defrin during a briefing on Saturday.
The Israeli Defense Forces stated that the focus of this attack was to destroy Iran’s missile production and launch network. “We are targeting every link in the missile production chain,” said Defrin.
He also added that Iran’s missile launching capability has been significantly weakened.
The Israeli Defense Forces also announced the killing of senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force commander Saeed Izadi, who was linked to a Hamas terrorist attack on October 7.
Izadi was known for smuggling weapons and funds for Hamas. His relationship with Hamas senior leader Mohammad Sinwar was confirmed through documents seized in Gaza. Sinwar has also been killed by the Israeli Defense Forces.
In another attack, the Israeli Defense Forces eliminated Behnam Shahriyari, who was responsible for providing weapons to Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups in the region.
According to the Israeli Defense Forces, over the past week, Iran has launched over 1,000 drones towards Israel. Most of the drones were intercepted outside Israeli airspace.
Israeli fighter jets, helicopters, and navy forces continue to target Iranian drone infrastructure, destroying approximately 950 drones before launch.
In the north, the Israeli navy and air force attacked Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, including rocket launch sites and Radwan unit facilities.
On Sunday morning, the Israeli Air Force successfully intercepted a drone launched towards Israeli territory from the east. The source of this drone has not been confirmed by the Israeli Defense Forces. In recent weeks, during the ongoing conflict, Israel has faced drone and missile attacks from Iran and its regional proxies.