The announcement came after a dual Iranian missile barrage on Sunday morning, which involved direct hits in Israel.
Until yesterday the White House maintained a clear red line: no direct US involvement on Iranian soil. That line survived tanker wars, drone shoot-downs and proxy salvos.
The exercise was unprecedented as it war-gamed offensive actions against Iranian nuclear capabilities for the first time, the source informed ABC.
The strike on the three Iranian F-14s was carried out "in the heart of Iran," IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin said.
Since the start of Israeli strikes on Iranian territory last Friday, the Air Force has destroyed some 200 surface-to-surface ballistic missile launchers across the Islamic Republic.
Deep in Iran - D., a cool-headed fighter pilot, gives a rare account of the strike that stunned Iran and the world. “We’re hitting the missiles heading our way before they’re launched.”
Iran has launched at least 1,000 drones against Israel since Operation Rising Lion began last Friday.
Since the start of Operation Rising Lion last Friday, 14 such planes have landed in Israel, along with over 800 others since the start of the Israel-Hamas War, the Defense Ministry noted.
The targets included sites linked to Iran’s nuclear weapons development project and missile production infrastructure operated by the Iranian regime.
These aerial refueling missions are crucial for the Air Force's operations in Iran, enabling the continued maintenance of aerial superiority in the region, according to the military.
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