Israeli commandos operated in Iran during 12-day war: military
JERUSALEM: The head of Israel's military said Wednesday that Israeli commandos had operated secretly inside Iran during the countries' 12-day war.
"We achieved full control over Iranian airspace and in every location where we chose to operate," chief of staff Eyal Zamir said in a televised address.
"This was made possible thanks to, among other things, coordination and tactical deception carried out by our air force and ground commando units," he added.
ME bourses advance on Iran-Israel ceasefire
"The forces operated in secret deep within enemy territory and created operational freedom of action for us."
Both countries have claimed victory in the conflict since a ceasefire went into effect on Tuesday.
The war erupted on June 13 when Israel launched a surprise bombing campaign that it said aimed to stop Iran developing a nuclear weapon -- an ambition Iran has consistently denied.
Zamir was the first Israeli official to say publicly that Israeli soldiers had operated on the ground in Iran.
"The campaign is not yet finished," he added. "We must remain on guard -- many challenges await."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
'71 killed by Israeli strikes on Iran's Evin Prison'
Israel's attack on the Evin Prison in Iran's capital, Tehran, on June 23 killed 71 people, Iranian judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said on Sunday. At the end of an air war with Iran, Israel struck Tehran's most notorious jail for political prisoners, in a demonstration that it was expanding its targets beyond military and nuclear sites to aim at symbols of Iran's ruling system. 'In the attack on Evin prison, 71 people were martyred, including administrative staff, youth doing their military service, detainees, family members of detainees who were visiting them and neighbours who lived in the prison's vicinity,' Jahangir said in remarks carried on the judiciary's news outlet Mizan. Jahangir had previously said that part of Evin prison's administrative building had been damaged in the attack and people were killed and injured. The judiciary added that the remaining detainees had been transferred to other prisons in Tehran province. Evin prison holds many foreign nationals, including two French citizens detained for three years. "The strike targeting Evin prison in Tehran put our citizens, Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, in danger. It is unacceptable," France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot had said on social media X after the attack. Earlier on Saturday, Iran held a mass funeral procession in Tehran for dozens of military commanders and high-ranking officials killed by Israeli airstrikes during a 12-day conflict that has escalated regional tensions. State media reported that the ceremony to honour the martyrs commenced in Enghelab Square, with thousands of mourners dressed in black and waving Iranian flags. Read: Iran holds mass funeral for top brass assassinated by Israeli strikes The procession is moving towards Azadi Square, a symbolic route used in major national events. 12-day war The 12-day war that began with unprovoked Israeli military strikes in Iran on June 13 resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries on both sides, according to official figures released by the respective governments. Israel launched the first strikes, targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities with more than 200 fighter jets. According to Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, at least 610 people were killed and 4,746 injured, including 185 women and 13 children. Public infrastructure also sustained extensive damage, including hospitals, ambulances, and emergency units. Among those killed were senior nuclear scientists and high-ranking military commanders, including the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The youngest confirmed fatality was a two-month-old infant. Read more: If necessary, will bomb Iran again: Trump In response, Iran fired hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at Israeli targets, with Tel Aviv and Haifa among the hardest hit. The Israeli military stated that up to 1,000 projectiles were launched, of which 90 percent were intercepted. The attacks resulted in 28 deaths and 3,238 injuries across Israel. According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) project, Israel carried out at least 508 airstrikes on Iran during the escalation. Another count from Al Jazeera's Sanad fact-checking agency - italicise placed the number at 145 combined Israeli and US strikes. Iranian retaliation included at least 120 missile and drone attacks, with some reaching Israeli civilian and critical infrastructure. Notable targets included Soroka Medical Center, the Israeli Military Intelligence School, the Ministry of Interior in Haifa, and several energy facilities. The US joined the conflict on June 22 with bunker-buster bombings on Iran's nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. A US-brokered ceasefire was reached on June 24, shortly after Iran launched missiles at the largest US airbase in the Middle East, located in Qatar. Iranian authorities reported a mass internal displacement, with nearly nine million people leaving major cities such as Tehran and heading toward northern provinces bordering the Caspian Sea. The ceasefire remains in place, though both nations have warned of further action if provoked.
Business Recorder
4 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Iran says 71 killed in Israeli strike on Evin Prison
DUBAI: Israel's attack on the Evin Prison in Iran's capital Tehran on June 23 killed 71 people, Iranian judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said on Sunday. At the end of an air war with Iran, Israel struck Tehran's most notorious jail for political prisoners, in a demonstration that it was expanding its targets beyond military and nuclear sites to aim at symbols of Iran's ruling system. 'In the attack on Evin prison, 71 people were martyred including administrative staff, youth doing their military service, detainees, family members of detainees who were visiting them and neighbours who lived in the prison's vicinity,' Jahangir said in remarks carried on the judiciary's news outlet Mizan. Jahangir had previously said that part of Evin prison's administrative building had been damaged in the attack and people were killed and injured. Israel army issues evacuation warning for parts of north Gaza The judiciary added that remaining detainees had been transferred to other prisons in Tehran province. Evin prison holds a number of foreign nationals, including two French citizens detained for three years. 'The strike targeting Evin prison in Tehran, put our citizens Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris in danger. It is unacceptable,' France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot had said on social media X after the attack.
Business Recorder
6 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Israel army issues evacuation warning for parts of north Gaza
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Israel's military issued Sunday an evacuation order for the northern Gaza Strip, warning Palestinians in parts of Gaza City and nearby areas of imminent action there, more than 20 months into the war with Hamas. Trump slams Israel's prosecutors over Netanyahu corruption trial Israeli forces 'will operate with intense force in these areas, and these military operations will intensify and expand… to destroy the capabilities of the terrorist organisations', military spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a statement posted on X alongside a map of northern Gaza, telling residents to 'evacuate immediately south to Al-Mawasi' for safety.
