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By: Fern Sidman

Israel’s military campaign against Iran is entering a decisive phase, with Israeli defense officials signaling that at least another week of sustained operations lies ahead as the Israel Defense Forces seeks to further dismantle the Iranian regime’s military infrastructure and strategic capabilities.

Since the outbreak of hostilities last weekend, Israeli forces have already unleashed an extensive aerial bombardment campaign across Iranian territory, dropping more than 5,000 bombs on military installations, missile launch sites and command centers. According to multiple reports cited by Newsmax on Thursday, Israeli military planners are preparing additional waves of attacks targeting thousands more sites, reflecting an ambitious strategy aimed at crippling Iran’s operational capacity and weakening the regime’s grip on power.

The scope and tempo of the campaign mark one of the most significant military confrontations between Israel and Iran in modern history. Israeli officials describe the operation as part of a broader effort to neutralize what they regard as a persistent and existential threat posed by Tehran’s missile arsenal, regional proxy networks and advanced military programs.

As the conflict intensifies, the Israeli Air Force has achieved what military officials characterize as expanding dominance of Iranian airspace. In a statement released by the Israel Defense Forces, officials emphasized that fighter aircraft continue to “deepen air superiority throughout Iran, with an emphasis on the Tehran area,” according to information highlighted by Newsmax.

Such aerial supremacy has allowed Israeli jets to operate across large swaths of Iranian territory with increasing freedom, striking a wide range of strategic targets while encountering limited resistance from Iran’s air defense network. Military analysts note that the rapid degradation of Iran’s air defenses has been central to the effectiveness of Israel’s campaign, enabling repeated sorties deep into Iranian airspace.

A senior Israeli Air Force officer described the scale of recent operations and their devastating impact on Iranian forces. Speaking in a video released by the military, Col. Aleph, commander of Israel’s Ramat David Air Base, said Israeli strikes over the past two days alone have inflicted substantial casualties.

“In the past two days, we have killed thousands of Iranian forces,” Aleph stated, according to remarks carried by Newsmax. The officer, whose full identity was withheld for security reasons and who was identified only by his first initial in Hebrew, recounted participating in a major strike operation targeting a large military complex in eastern Tehran.

“Seconds before I dropped the bombs, I looked right and left and saw dozens of fighter jets beside me,” he said. “They’re flying freely, dropping hundreds of tons of precise munitions and destroying the targets.”

The account offered a rare glimpse into the magnitude of Israel’s aerial assault on Iran’s capital region. Tehran has emerged as a focal point of the campaign, with Israeli aircraft repeatedly striking installations associated with Iran’s security apparatus and command infrastructure.

According to the information cited by Newsmax, one of the most significant operations occurred Wednesday when more than 100 Israeli fighter jets carried out coordinated attacks on a sprawling compound in Tehran believed to house multiple elements of Iran’s military and intelligence services. The Israel Defense Forces reported that the aircraft released over 250 bombs on the complex during the operation.

The targeted facility reportedly served as a central hub for several branches of Iran’s security establishment. Among the entities operating from the compound were headquarters connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC’s elite Quds Force, and Iran’s intelligence directorate.

The site also housed personnel from the Basij paramilitary force, a controversial militia known for its role in suppressing domestic protests, as well as units associated with Iran’s cyber warfare division and special forces elements belonging to the country’s internal security apparatus.

 

Israeli officials described the compound as a critical node in Iran’s command-and-control architecture. The Israel Defense Forces said the headquarters were struck while Iranian personnel responsible for managing military operations and coordinating hostile activities against Israel and other regional states were present.

“The headquarters were struck while personnel of the Iranian terror regime responsible for managing the campaign, advancing terror plans against the state of Israel and countries in the region, and suppressing Iranian civilians were operating from them,” the Israeli military said in a statement referenced by Newsmax.

In addition to these command centers, Israeli forces have targeted Iran’s missile infrastructure with particular intensity. One of the most immediate threats facing Israel has long been Iran’s arsenal of ballistic missiles capable of reaching Israeli territory.

During the ongoing campaign, Israeli aircraft have systematically sought to destroy launch sites, mobile launchers and associated logistical networks used to deploy these weapons.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, an Israeli F-35I stealth fighter jet recently destroyed an armed ballistic missile launcher in the Kermanshah region of western Iran. The launcher was reportedly prepared for potential deployment against Israeli targets.

“The Israeli Air Force continues to strike missile launch sites and missile launchers in order to remove the threat posed to the state of Israel,” the military said in remarks reported by Newsmax.

Additional waves of Israeli airstrikes have targeted missile infrastructure across central and western Iran. Israeli officials say dozens of ballistic missile launchers have been destroyed in these operations, along with air defense systems designed to protect them.

In several instances, the Israeli military said the launchers were struck while Iranian personnel were actively operating them or preparing to launch missiles. Such strikes underscore the urgency with which Israel is attempting to neutralize Iran’s missile capabilities before they can be used in retaliation.

Another notable target included Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport, where Israeli forces reportedly destroyed detection systems and air defense installations intended to safeguard the capital’s airspace.

Israeli officials indicated that at least 11 waves of strikes have been conducted in Tehran alone since the beginning of the conflict. Multiple attacks have occurred in rapid succession, including two separate strike waves carried out on Wednesday.

As the air campaign continues, Israeli military leaders have emphasized that the conflict represents an unprecedented level of operational coordination between Israel and the United States.

Officials speaking to Newsmax described the current war as the first full-scale joint military campaign between the two longtime allies, with both nations dividing responsibilities according to geography, operational objectives and specialized capabilities.

Under this arrangement, Israeli forces have concentrated their efforts on missile launchers and military infrastructure located in western and central Iran, areas from which long-range missiles targeting Israel are typically launched.

Meanwhile, U.S. forces have reportedly focused on missile launchers situated in southern Iran that have been used to threaten American military bases across the Persian Gulf.

The U.S. military has also taken responsibility for targeting elements of Iran’s naval forces, while Israeli strikes have focused more heavily on regime-related institutions and security structures within Tehran itself.

This division of labor reflects the complementary strengths of both militaries and highlights the deep strategic partnership between Washington and Jerusalem.

Israeli officials say American logistical support has been particularly crucial to sustaining the tempo of the campaign. One of the most important contributions has been the deployment of American aerial refueling aircraft.

According to military officials cited by Newsmax, dozens of U.S. tanker aircraft have been stationed in Israel during the conflict, allowing Israeli fighter jets to conduct extended missions deep inside Iranian territory without returning to base for refueling.

These refueling operations have dramatically expanded the operational reach of Israeli aircraft, enabling them to carry out multiple strike waves against targets located hundreds of miles from Israel’s borders.

Beyond logistical support, U.S. and Israeli militaries have also established joint coordination centers responsible for synchronizing intelligence analysis, target selection and operational planning.

“There are joint coordination cells in both countries working to synchronize intelligence, targeting and defense operations,” a military official told Newsmax, describing the depth of collaboration between the two nations.

The presence of more than 1,000 American troops currently stationed in Israel has further reinforced the alliance’s operational integration.

One official involved in the planning process summarized the unprecedented level of cooperation with a succinct phrase: “This is a war in English.”

While the aerial bombardment has captured most of the public attention, Israeli officials indicate that additional elements of the campaign are unfolding behind the scenes.

Israeli Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar revealed that special forces units associated with the air force are carrying out significant missions as part of the broader operation.

“The troops of the air force’s special units are currently carrying out extraordinary missions that can spark one’s imagination,” Bar said in a message to personnel quoted by Newsmax.

Although he did not elaborate on the precise nature of these operations, analysts suggest they may include covert reconnaissance, targeting assistance for airstrikes, sabotage missions and intelligence gathering deep within Iranian territory.

Such operations have historically played a key role in Israel’s military strategy, particularly in complex conflicts where precise intelligence and unconventional tactics can dramatically influence the battlefield.

As the war enters its second week, the scale and intensity of the Israeli offensive suggest that the campaign is far from over. Military planners in Jerusalem appear determined to capitalize on the momentum achieved during the opening phase of the conflict.

By systematically targeting Iran’s missile infrastructure, command centers and security institutions, Israeli leaders hope to significantly weaken the regime’s capacity to project power and threaten Israel in the future.

At the same time, the unprecedented coordination with the United States underscores the broader geopolitical stakes of the confrontation. The conflict has rapidly evolved into a major strategic confrontation involving two of the Middle East’s most powerful militaries on one side and one of the region’s most heavily armed regimes on the other.

For now, Israeli officials insist that their objectives remain focused on eliminating immediate threats rather than pursuing territorial ambitions.

Yet as additional waves of airstrikes are planned and the possibility of further escalation looms, the coming days are likely to determine whether the campaign succeeds in fundamentally altering the strategic balance between Israel and Iran.

As Newsmax has noted in its coverage of the conflict, the unfolding war represents one of the most consequential military confrontations the region has witnessed in decades—one whose outcome could reshape the security landscape of the Middle East for years to come.