Israeli Air Force jets conducted strikes described as hitting the “heart of Tehran,” including key regime and military infrastructure, according to Israeli defense officials. Israeli sources report that the IDF has gained air superiority over Iranian airspace, a status that military planners said allows fighter aircraft to operate with greater freedom and target critical installations deep inside Iran’s territory. This assertion of aerial dominance is a crucial factor in enabling ongoing and future strikes on high-value targets across the country.

The strikes, part of Operation Roaring Lion, follow coordinated attacks with the United States and are aimed at weakening Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities while dismantling command structures. Israeli forces said that eliminating or neutralizing air defense networks was key to establishing this level of air control, allowing fighter jets to carry out precision attacks with reduced risk from Iranian surface-to-air missiles.

Officials from Israeli military and defense circles described the achievement of air superiority as a milestone in the campaign, giving commanders greater flexibility to strike against hardened and previously inaccessible targets throughout the Islamic Republic.