Israel took out three Iranian-made Russian-made S-300 missile defense systems in response to the Islamic Republic’s retaliation last week, Fox News said.
Israel carried out strategic airstrikes on October 26, marking a significant escalation in the conflict between the two countries during the chosen name of the operation, “Days of Repentance.” The strikes also targeted critical military infrastructure, delivering a symbolic and tactical blow to Iran’s military power following Tehran’s attacks on Israel in recent weeks.
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Israeli Air Force planes to strike Iran on Oct. 26. (IDF Spokesperson Unit)
The Biden administration was notified of the Israeli strike in advance. The targets were chosen in an attempt to send a direct message to Iran and reduce its ability to fire ballistic missiles at Israel anytime soon.
At the beginning of the year, Iran had only four S300 surface-to-air missile systems. In April, Israel fired one of its missile systems in response to Iran’s first ballistic missile attack. A senior US official confirmed that the airstrike took out three S-300 missile systems.
“Most of Iran’s air defenses have been taken out.” a senior Israeli official told Fox News.
In an internal call, President Biden’s adviser on the Middle East, Amos Hochstein, said that “Iran is basically naked” and no longer has a missile defense.
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A satellite image showing the Sharoud Missile test site reportedly hit by Israel during its attack on Iran over the weekend. (INTELLITIMES)
Israeli warplanes also took out many of the radar systems needed to target the same missiles fired at Israel in April and October 1 when Iran fired 181 ballistic missiles into the Jewish state. Most of the missiles were destroyed before reaching their targets, while others caused minor damage, the Defense Ministry said.
Removing the radar systems prevents Iran from firing those missiles in the future, the senior official said.
“Our message is very clear… ‘Any threat, anywhere, at any time, we will know how to approach it, we will know how to strike,'” said the Chief of the Israel Defense Forces, LTG Herzi Halevi.
Halevi insisted that Israel withdraw part of its capabilities, suggesting that further steps could be taken if Iran escalated.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has urged Iran not to respond to Israeli strikes.
The Iranian air defense is reported to be active as Israel begins to attack Iranian targets in Tehran. (Courtesy of Fox News)
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“We believe this should be the end of this,” said Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh during a press conference today. “We don’t think Iran should respond or need to respond. On October 1, Iran launched 200 missiles aimed at civilian areas. Israel’s response was aimed at the military.”
“We see this as an escape route,” he added.
Fox News Digital’s Efrat Lachter contributed to this report.
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