October 2024 Israeli strikes on Iran

"Operation Days of Repentance" redirects here. For the similarly named 2004 operation, see 2004 Israeli operation in the northern Gaza Strip.

Operation Days of Repentance
2024 Israeli strikes on Iran
Part of the 2024 Iran–Israel conflict and the Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)
An Israeli F-35I "Adir", the model of aircraft reported to have taken part in the strikes.
TypeMissile strike
Location
Iran, Iraq, Syria
Planned by Israel
TargetIranian missile bases, weapons factories and air-defense systems
Date26 October 2024
Executed by Israeli Air Force
OutcomePer US and Israel:

Per Iran:

  • Minor to moderate damage to Iran's military infrastructure[4][5]
Losses:
CasualtiesTotal: 5 killed
4 Iranian Army officers killed[10][11]
1 Iranian security guard killed[12]

On 26 October 2024, Israel launched three waves of strikes against 20 locations in Iran and other locations in Iraq, and Syria, codenamed Operation Days of Repentance[13] (Hebrew: מבצע ימי תשובה) by Israel. The attack marked the first time since the 1980s that Iran has faced a sustained assault from a foreign adversary.[14] Israel said the strikes were launched in response to the Iranian strikes against Israel earlier that month.[15]

Israel informed Iran a few hours ahead of the attack what would be targeted, and warned Iran against responding.[16][17][18] According to the Israeli military, the strikes targeted Iranian military sites, including air-defense batteries, a UAV factory, and missile production facilities, with all Israeli aircraft returning safely. The Israeli attack involved over 100 aircraft, including F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters, traveling 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) and using heavy munitions. Some of the aircraft breached Iranian airspace.[19] A preceding attack on Syria reportedly targeted radar defenses.[20] An Iranian news agency associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that military installations in western and southwestern Tehran, as well as bases in the Ilam and Khuzestan provinces, were attacked. Four Iranian Army soldiers were reportedly killed.[11] An Israeli official said that following the strikes targeting Iranian air defence and ballistic missile sites, Israel could now operate with greater freedom in Iranian airspace.[21]

The IDF stated it has completed "precise and targeted strikes" in response to "months of continuous attacks" from Iran and its proxies,[14] as well as a recent barrage of Iranian missiles on Israel on 1 October. US officials confirmed that the US was briefed in advance but did not participate in the operation. Following the attack Iran imposed military censorship over its damaged sites.[22]

According to a U.S. assessment, the strikes crippled Iran's missile production capability, estimating it would take at least a year for Iran to rebuild the destroyed components necessary to resume production.[1] U.S. and Israeli officials said that most of Iran's air defense network, including nearly all of its advanced S-300 systems, were destroyed, paving the way for potential future Israeli strikes.[2][3]

  1. ^ a b c d "Israel strike crippled Iran's missile production, sources say". Axios. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b Rasmussen, Sune Engel; Norman, Laurence; Peled, Anat (27 October 2024). "Israeli Strikes on Iran Expose Gap in Prowess Between Two Arch Foes". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 27 October 2024. Saturday's attack is believed to have hit most if not all of the remaining S-300s.
  3. ^ a b Berman, Lazar (27 October 2024). "Though limited, Israel's highly successful attack leaves Iran more vulnerable than ever". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Reddy, Ria; Moorman, Carolyn; Braverman, Alexandra; Kishore, Siddhant; Campa, Kelly; Parry, Andie; Carter, Brian (28 October 2024). "Iran Update, October 28, 2024". ISW Press. Washington, D.C.: Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  5. ^ Vock, Ido (27 October 2024). "Iran leader says Israeli attack should not be 'exaggerated or downplayed'". BBC News. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  6. ^ a b Carl, Nicholas (26 October 2024). "Israeli Retaliatory Strikes on Iran". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  7. ^ a b Keller-Lynn, Carrie; Jones, Rory; Lieber, Dov (26 October 2024). "How Israel Pulled Off Its Largest-Ever Strike on Iran". The Washington Post. Tel Aviv, Israel. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d Moorman, Carolyn; Reddy, Ria; Parry, Andie; Kishore, Siddhant; Carl, Nicholas (27 October 2024). "Iran Update, October 27, 2024". ISW Press. Washington, D.C.: Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  9. ^ Gambrell, Jon (27 October 2024). "Satellite images show damage from Israeli attack at 2 secretive Iranian military bases". AP News. Associated Press. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  10. ^ Parry, Andie; Moore, Johanna; Moorman, Carolyn; Reddy, Ria; Rezaei, Ben; Carl, Nicholas (26 October 2024). "Iran Update, October 26, 2024". Washington, D.C.: Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  11. ^ a b "افزایش تعداد شهدای پدافند هوایی ارتش به چهار شهید" [Number of martyrs in the army's air defense increases to four]. Tabnak (in Persian). 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  12. ^ https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/Israel%20iran%20attack#202410275922
  13. ^ "Why did Israel name its operation against Iran 'Days of Repentance?' - explainer". The Jerusalem Post. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Israel attacks Iran in series of pre-dawn airstrikes targeting military infrastructure". AP News. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  15. ^ "How Biden Pushed Israel to Limit Its Iran Attack and Still Inflict a Heavy Blow". The Wall Street Journal. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  16. ^ "ישראל הזהירה את איראן לפני התקיפה: "אל תגיבו" - וואלה חדשות". Walla (in Hebrew). 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Scoop: Israel sent message to Iran ahead of attack and warned against response". Axios. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  18. ^ "כמה שעות לפני התקיפה: ישראל סיפקה לאיראן הבהרה - אך גם אזהרה I דיווח". Maariv (in Hebrew). 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  19. ^ Sciutto, Jim (27 October 2024). "Some Israeli warplanes breached Iranian airspace during operation Friday, sources say". CNN. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference :11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ Ravid, Barak. "Israel launches retaliatory attack against Iran". Axios.
  22. ^ Makoii, Akhtar (26 October 2024). "Iran threatens citizens with 10 years in prison for sharing videos of Israeli strikes". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 26 October 2024.