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In the early hours of October 26, 2024, Israel successfully launched three waves of airstrikes on Iranian soil. When the operation began has not yet been confirmed, but “projectiles” were observed over Tehran at around 2:15 a.m. (22:45 GMT). The whole operation lasted approximately three hours.

According to some reports, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were able to attack twenty sites in Iran (mainly Ilam, Khuzestan and Tehran) and Syria. Called “Operation Days of Repentance,” it was the first time Iran faced a sustained attack from a foreign adversary since the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s.

But how did the Israeli army manage to carry out this attack? Let’s find out.

What happened?

According to Israel, the attacks were carried out in response to Iranian strikes on October 1. This particular attack involved hundreds of ballistic and apparently hypersonic missiles, most of which were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system.

The Iranian attack reportedly primarily targeted Israeli military installations (although one was confirmed to have hit a school). Some missiles did penetrate Israeli defenses, causing minor damage to some airfields in the center and south of the country.

No IDF casualties or injuries were reported at the time, but only one death has since emerged in the West Bank. According to reportsthe IDF response involved more than 100 aircraft of various types, with some targets requiring a 1,243-mile (2,000 km) round trip.

The exact number and type of aircraft have not been officially confirmed, but they likely included F-35s and older US aircraft like the F-16 “Fighting Falcons” and F-15 “Eagles”. No IDF casualties were reported.

What did Israel target in Iran?

The twenty targets, primarily in Iran, were chosen to erode Iran’s offensive and air defense systems. “Operation Days of Repentance” reportedly began with preliminary strikes in Syria.

These attacks were intended to blind Iran’s early warning air defense systems. It is important to note that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has outposts in various parts of the country. Middle East, either in neighboring countries like Syria, or very close to the border (like Iraq).

Once these systems were neutralized, the operation continued to strike targets across Iran. This included military infrastructure near the capital Tehran and other places like Karaj. Interestingly, the targets also included the valuable Russian-supplied S-300 air defense batteries.

According to some reports, the IDF claimed to be able to neutralize at least four S-300 launchers and radar systems. Israel has not targeted nuclear or energy facilities such as power plants and oil facilities. The first attacks on Iran likely targeted radar and air defense systems to allow trouble-free wave-following incursions.

Has Israel hit nuclear targets?

Subsequent strikes targeted Iranian factories, stores, launchers and research facilities known to develop, build, host and launch long-range missiles and drones.

However, there are reports that an Israeli drone struck the Parchin base near Tehran. Although unconfirmed, this site has been identified as playing a central role in Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

However, this site is also used for other military research, including rocket development. Reuters reports that achieving this goal could have “significantly hampered Iran’s ability to mass produce missiles.”

Iran reported that four IRGC soldiers were killed and another civilian injured following the attacks. Israel took immediate responsibility for the attacks, saying it had used precise strikes to punish the IRGC.

Iran also downplayed the attack, saying most of the incoming Israeli missiles and drones had been intercepted. They also claim that the damage caused was limited.

How did they manage to achieve this?

In short, this was achieved through a combination of elements of surprise, training, equipment and planning.

Attack aircraft were armed with various “standoff” munitions, which could be launched from a distance. These weapons likely included ROCKS (a long-range air-launched missile), Ice Breaker (an air-launched cruise missile), and Carnage (a long-range supersonic missile).

Such weapons allow attack aircraft to attack targets without having to enter enemy airspace if they are close to the border. This was likely the case for longer range targets near Tehran or the Ilam and Khuzestan regions.

Israel has not publicly disclosed details of its operational route. However, the Israeli Air Force, including the 201st Squadron using F-16s, is believed to have flown over Syria and Iraq, launching its weapons from Iraqi airspace before returning home.

In fact, the Iraqi government has since formally filed a complaint with the United Nations on Monday, accusing Israel of a “blatant violation” by using its airspace to carry out attacks against Iran.

Power the jet

For targets closer to Tehran, it is not impossible that these targets are reserved for stealth F-35s and possibly drones. If true, this should seriously worry Iran (and Russia), as one of the main selling points of the S-300 and the newer S-400 is that they can counter such aircraft.

When it comes to fuel, the F-35, F-16, and F-15 all have a maximum unrefueled range significantly less than the distance between Israel and Iran. However, all combat aircraft were likely equipped with external fuel tanks to extend their range.

Several images of IDF aircraft taken at the time clearly show their hard spots with external fuel tanks. Some, like the F-16s, also appear to have a small “hump” on each side of the cockpit.

These are called compliant tanks, Accessory fuel tanks designed to be as aerodynamic as possible. It was also reported that of the 100 aircraft, or more detailed, some of them included aerial refueling aircraft like the 707 “Re’em” tankers.

The IDF currently operates around seven of them, and it is not excluded that they all contributed to the operation.

Consequences

The attack likely not only shook the Iranian regime’s leadership in Tehran, but also significantly weakened the country militarily. Reducing Iranian air defenses will reduce the threat to Israeli aircraft in future attacks.

The strikes also appear to have significantly damaged Iran’s missile manufacturing capabilities.

This will diminish the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ ability to retaliate against Israel. What happens from here remains to be seen, but various analysts have pointed out that this strike could weaken the regime both within and outside its borders.