🎯 Senior Iranian command leadership eliminated in Tehran strikes: The IDF confirms that Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, was eliminated in Israeli Air Force strikes in Tehran during the opening strike of Operation “Roaring Lion.” The IDF says the Israeli Air Force, guided by IDF intelligence, struck and eliminated seven members of Iran’s top security leadership who had gathered at several locations in Tehran.
Mousavi served as one of Iran’s highest-ranking military officials and succeeded Mohammad Bagheri, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, who was eliminated in the opening strike of Operation “Rising Lion” in June 2025. Prior to Operation “Rising Lion,” Mousavi served as commander of Iran’s army and held key security positions, including responsibility for managing Iran’s security apparatus and oversight of hundreds of ballistic missile launches toward Israeli territory that killed Israeli civilians during the operation.
The IDF says the majority of the highest-ranking senior military officials in Iran’s security leadership have been eliminated. It adds that with the launch of the preemptive operation, the Israeli Air Force has eliminated 40 senior commanders, which the IDF describes as a historic strike enabled by intelligence guidance.
💥 Air defenses targeted as Israel moves toward aerial superiority over Tehran
The IDF says it has dismantled most of the aerial defense systems in western and central Iran and is paving the way toward establishing aerial superiority over the skies of Tehran. It adds that the Israeli Air Force continues operating extensively in both defense and offense with the goal of removing threats posed to the State of Israel.
💥 Katz: Israeli Air Force begins stand-in strikes over Tehran: Defense Minister Israel Katz says the Israeli Air Force is striking Tehran with “stand-in” munitions, meaning those dropped directly over targets. “For the first time in Operation Roaring Lion, air force aircraft are operating in 'stand-in' over the skies of Tehran in a powerful strike against regime and repression targets,” Katz says.
He says Israeli strikes in Tehran over the past day used stand-off weapons launched from a distance, generally with smaller warheads. Katz says the shift to stand-in strikes follows what the military described as establishing air superiority and having “opened the way to Tehran,” and adds that “continuous powerful strikes” will now take place in Tehran.
🚨 Iran missile launches toward Israel; interceptions and Home Front directives issued: The IDF reports it identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israeli territory a short while ago, with defensive systems operating to intercept the threat. In the past few minutes, the Home Front Command sent a precautionary directive directly to mobile phones in relevant areas.
The public was instructed to enter a protected space upon receiving an alert and remain there until further notice. Leaving a protected space is permitted only after receiving explicit instructions, and the public was asked to continue acting in accordance with Home Front Command guidelines, which the IDF says save lives.
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