WATCH: Operation Rising Lion Enters Fifth Day as Israel Intensifies Strikes on Iran
In the latest phase of its ongoing military operation, Israel has significantly escalated its strikes deep within Iranian territory, targeting vital missile infrastructure and military leadership. With air superiority firmly established, the IDF continues its campaign to dismantle Iran's strategic capabilities, including its nuclear and missile programs.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have entered the fifth day of Operation Rising Lion, a multi-front military campaign aimed at neutralizing existential threats to Israel, with a particular focus on Iran’s nuclear program and missile arsenal. As part of the latest wave of operations, around sixty Israeli fighter jets launched a massive strike deep in central Iran, focusing on twelve key sites used for missile launching and storage, specifically targeting Raad 5 Command, responsible for a majority of Iranian missile launches in 2024.
According to the IDF, this latest strike was one of the most ambitious yet, pinpointing underground launch facilities designed to fire surface-to-surface missiles at Israeli population centers. The attack was made possible thanks to Israeli air superiority, achieved in the opening days of the campaign when over 70 Iranian air defense batteries were eliminated, particularly across western Iran in Kermanshah, Ahvaz, and Tabriz, regions from which Iran had previously launched missile salvos at Israel.
The Iranian military, under pressure from relentless IDF airstrikes, has shifted its launch operations eastward, now operating primarily from the Isfahan region. However, Israeli aircraft continue to operate unhindered in Iranian airspace, identifying and striking launch teams and command hubs in real time. “There are no more sanctuary cities in the Middle East,” a senior Israeli military official emphasized. “What applied to Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Dahieh now applies to the Iranian regime and every launch cell operating against Israeli civilians.”
The IDF also confirmed another wave of precision strikes earlier today targeting Iran’s air defense launchers across western Iran, aimed at deepening Israel’s control of the skies. At the same time, Israel continues targeting terror infrastructure across Tehran, including Revolutionary Guard assets, command centers, Quds Force operatives, and facilities tied to Iran’s nuclear program.
One of the most notable strikes involved the elimination of Iran’s newly appointed Chief of General Staff, just four days into his tenure, in a rapid intelligence-driven operation overnight. Israeli intelligence reportedly seized on a brief operational window and executed a precision assassination of the top general, known as Shadmadi.
In a briefing, the IDF acknowledged that although significant Iranian assets have been destroyed, the regime still possesses substantial missile capabilities. The military cautioned that the Home Front Command is continuing its efforts to provide early warning systems through real-time alerts, text messages, and sirens, though not every launch can be detected in advance.
As Israel expands its offensive, it also remains alert to gaps in defensive infrastructure. Measures are being taken to strengthen the protection of IDF bases and ensure that all military personnel, whether in the front or rear, are safeguarded as the campaign intensifies.
When asked whether a ground operation in Iran could be on the table, the IDF refused to rule it out, stating that all methods of warfare; air, land, and sea are under consideration in the context of a complex, multi-arena war.