Israel steps up pressure on Iranian air defenses

Israeli fighter jets continue to operate with increasing freedom in Iranian airspace, targeting critical military infrastructure in a series of ongoing precision strikes.

According to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the latest wave of airstrikes has focused on radar sites and surface-to-air missile systems near Tehran and Isfahan, further degrading Iran’s ability to counter aerial incursions.

In a statement, the Ministry said: “This attack expands the freedom of aerial operations of the Israel Defense Forces in Iranian airspace following the breakthrough to Tehran.”

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The campaign, the Ministry added, is part of a broader effort by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to assert air superiority and maintain operational pressure on Iran’s military.

Over the past several days, Israeli aircraft have struck Iranian radar and missile positions believed to be responsible for tracking and targeting IDF aircraft operating over central and western Iran. The Defense Ministry stated that these installations had posed a threat to Israeli pilots and were actively interfering with ongoing operations.

New videos released alongside the statement appear to show direct hits on Iranian air defense assets, including what Israeli officials identified as Russian-supplied Tor-M2E systems and radar sites modeled after or derived from Russian “Kasta” systems. The footage, reportedly taken from surveillance drones or targeting pods, documents strikes against air defense nodes that had been deployed to shield Tehran and surrounding areas.

The Israel Defense Forces say they will continue operations aimed at “expanding aerial freedom” and degrading Iran’s integrated air defense network. While the strikes have demonstrated tactical success and disrupted the deployment of Iranian defensive assets, officials acknowledged that the entire Iranian airspace is not yet under Israeli control.

“Israeli Air Force units continue to engage in active missions over key areas including Tehran, Tabriz, Kermanshah, and Isfahan,” the Ministry noted, adding that the campaign’s objective is to suppress Iranian defensive capabilities while avoiding escalation beyond military targets.

For now, the Israeli military appears determined to maintain the initiative, systematically dismantling Iranian radar coverage and surface-to-air missile sites. The outcome of these operations could shape the future air posture in the region, especially if Iran’s attempts to restore its defensive grid prove unsuccessful.

The Israeli Ministry of Defense has not disclosed the number of aircraft involved or whether any assets were damaged during the missions.

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