Israeli military officials said that their current campaign against Iran’s nuclear program could meet its key goals within one to two weeks. This assessment was shared as the Israel Defense Forces pressed on with a series of operations targeting both Iranian troops and nuclear infrastructure. According to military sources, a fresh bombardment was launched against ballistic missile platforms located in the western part of Iran.
The IDF reported that numerous missile systems and associated installations were struck during this offensive.
Brigadier General Effie Defrin, spokesperson for the IDF, announced that earlier in the day, sixty fighter jets participated in “an extensive wave of strikes in the heart of Iran,” focusing on missile launchers directed toward Israel.
He noted a shift in Iranian military posture due to repeated Israeli attacks. “Now, they are putting efforts into launching [missiles] from Isfahan.”
“They withdrew from western Iran, but we are coming after them,” he added.
The IDF further confirmed it had targeted Iranian radar infrastructure and air defense capabilities in western regions since Tuesday morning and released footage from the operation.
As of Tuesday, Israeli aircraft have destroyed around 70 Iranian anti-aircraft batteries, part of an ongoing campaign since the start of this operation.
In just the first day of combat, more than 40 of those systems were taken out, establishing air superiority over Tehran and surrounding areas, according to IDF sources.
Despite these efforts, military officials cautioned that flying above Iranian territory still carries considerable risk.
Additional waves of attacks have since disabled approximately 30 more defense systems, which has allowed Israeli jets and UAVs to penetrate deeper into Iranian territory.
Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, Chief of Staff of the Israeli Air Force, said on Tuesday that the mission to eliminate Iranian air defenses represents “a historic mission that could change the entire course of the campaign.”
Drones from the Israeli Air Force are still being deployed to locate and neutralize radar arrays and SAM platforms throughout Iran.
The IDF distributed video footage showing the identification of Iranian ballistic missile preparations, followed by a successful strike on those assets. Another clip revealed a direct hit on a separate air defense system.
According to IDF figures, about 40% of Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal—roughly 200 launchers—has already been dismantled or rendered unusable.
The military believes this has significantly curtailed Iran’s capacity to launch large missile barrages against Israeli cities in recent days.
Their analysis suggests Iran isn’t deliberately holding back for a longer conflict, but rather facing logistical obstacles in coordinating larger-scale attacks.
That same evening, powerful explosions echoed throughout Tehran, as heard by AFP journalists stationed there. The blasts were reported in several parts of the city, but it wasn’t immediately clear whether they were caused by Israeli missiles or Iranian defensive fire.
Israel began this military campaign on Friday, intending to dismantle what it described as a critical existential danger posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions and missile capabilities.
So far, airstrikes have inflicted severe damage on key nuclear sites including Natanz and Isfahan. The IDF also eliminated at least nine prominent scientists reportedly involved in weaponization work, along with striking auxiliary facilities such as command centers and offices.
Military spokespeople indicated that the campaign had already significantly hindered Tehran’s ability to pursue a nuclear weapon, though they emphasized that further action remains necessary. They plan to release a comprehensive assessment of the damage upon conclusion of the operation.
While Israel has not yet attacked the Fordo nuclear plant buried deep underground, military leaders confirmed it remains a potential target. “An issue that will certainly be addressed,” said Defense Minister Israel Katz.
Smoke clouds were seen rising from parts of Tehran on June 17, following a nighttime Israeli airstrike.
The IDF disclosed that it had eliminated a large number of senior Iranian officers, including a majority of top-level officials from both the IRGC and the broader Iranian military. Commanders said their forces have taken out three times the number of Iranian leaders than initially projected.
Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk, who heads the Operations Directorate, declared on Tuesday that the mission would not cease until Iran’s nuclear and missile threats had been fully eradicated, though he did not commit to a firm timeline.
“We continue to strike nuclear targets to deepen the achievement, according to a plan and at a timing that suits us,” he told the press.
“We are striking the terror regime, not the people, who deserve a better future. Those who endanger us are the leadership in Tehran, not the people walking the streets of Shiraz,” Basiuk stated. “We will remain prepared on defense. I assess that the Iranians will continue to try to harm Israel.”
He concluded: “We will not allow a nuclear Iran to turn the Middle East into a graveyard.”
On June 17, Defense Minister Israel Katz held discussions with key IDF leaders, including Intelligence Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk, and Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.
Israel has defended its sweeping campaign as essential to preventing the Islamic Republic from nearing nuclear weapons capability. When it launched the strikes, Israeli officials said the urgency of the situation posed a direct threat to the state’s survival.
Though Tehran maintains that its nuclear activities are strictly peaceful, it has ramped up uranium enrichment to levels that raise international concern, blocked inspections by global monitors, and expanded its long-range missile capabilities.
During a visit to Bat Yam, where an Iranian missile had landed, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir emphasized the importance of national morale. “Civilian resilience is critical for us. It’s a central component of our ability to continue functioning.”
Nine people were killed in the missile strike that hit the city on Sunday.
“This is a war we didn’t choose, but we must see it through,” Zamir said in a video address to Home Front Command officers. “We are determined to complete our missions, and everything we were tasked with, we will achieve.”
He elaborated: “We are in an extraordinary moment. Right now, we are hunting ballistic missiles, there are UAVs out there, our fighter jets are involved, it’s something crazy: 1,500 kilometers from Israel, we’re tracking and destroying those ballistic missiles.”
Zamir praised the work of Home Front personnel, saying: “Now your layer comes in, and it’s a very significant layer in the sense that when something hits, forces are on the ground, and people draw strength from seeing you. You arrive quickly, rescue people safely, treat the wounded, and sadly, there are also fatalities in these events.”
He reiterated his earlier point: “Civilian resilience is critical for us. It’s a central component of our ability to continue functioning. You said it yourselves: We’re not stopping now. Why aren’t we stopping? Because the home front’s resilience is strong. When the resilience of the home front is strong, we have the confidence to keep operating.”
{Matzav.com}