A senior Israeli Air Force official disclosed extensive details about Operation Roaring Lion, outlining a rapid tempo of aerial activity, large-scale coordinated strikes, and major damage inflicted on Iran’s military capabilities, including the destruction of most of its key defense systems.

The official said that within just 18 days, the Air Force carried out a volume of operations equivalent to a full year of routine activity. “We flew in 18 days what we normally fly in a full year,” he said.

Figures released indicate that over 12,000 munitions were deployed and roughly 8,500 attacks were executed throughout Iran. In less than three weeks, the total number of operational flights matched what is typically seen over an entire year. Additionally, more than 90% of incoming threats directed at Israel have been successfully intercepted.

In the Iranian arena, approximately 5,700 combat sorties were flown, alongside more than 540 coordinated strike waves across central and western regions, as well as around 50 long-range operations. In Tehran alone, about 3,600 munitions were used.

Along the Lebanese front, the Air Force dropped over 2,200 munitions, striking close to 2,000 targets. This included more than 220 so-called “hunt” targets and approximately 100 “power” targets, with over 1,000 additional combat sorties carried out in that sector.

The official explained that the campaign was launched following extensive preparation, built on continuous intelligence gathering, training, and close coordination with the United States. He added that many of the targets struck were newly identified following Operation “Am KeLavi.”

According to the briefing, the military developed the plan as a prolonged campaign, carefully balancing offensive and defensive measures, managing operational risks, and constantly adjusting targets across multiple fronts.

Describing the opening phase, the official said: “The IDF timed 40 munitions that neutralized 40 individuals within 40 seconds.” This was followed by “the largest sortie in the history of the Air Force,” involving about 200 aircraft that struck launch sites and infrastructure.

The Air Force also employed a method known as “metro trains,” allowing for continuous, synchronized attacks across different areas. It was noted that roughly 20% of sorties shift to new targets while already in progress.

Assessments indicate that the strikes caused serious damage to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, disrupting its command and control systems. As a result, some operations have reportedly been carried out without full coordination, at times relying on local decision-making. Iran’s military production capabilities were also hit, with more than 1,200 munitions dropped on manufacturing sites.

On the northern front, the official said forces are being allocated carefully between different sectors while maintaining a high level of readiness. All drones launched toward Israel were successfully intercepted, and interception rates for other threats remained high.

He added that the Air Force has maintained a high degree of operational flexibility, continuously adapting to changing battlefield conditions while providing full support to ground forces and real-time assistance during operations.

Summing up the campaign so far, the official said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has suffered both operational and morale setbacks, with around 85% of Iran’s critical air defense and detection systems destroyed.

{Matzav.com}