At dawn on June 13, nearly 200 Israeli fighter jets took off silently on a mission that would reshape security in the Middle East. Nearly 100 targets on Iranian soil—military bases, missile factories, anti-aircraft systems, and the underground uranium enrichment complex at Natanz—were struck by 330 precision-guided munitions, in an air campaign reminiscent of Operation Opera in 1981, but with technology 40 years ahead of its time. Not a single Israeli fighter was shot down. No Iranian air defense system responded adequately.
The Adirs That No One Saw
At the forefront of the effort was the F-35I Adir, the Israeli variant of the American F-35. With modified electronics, additional fuel tanks and a domestically developed C4I system, the Adir can operate deep inside enemy territory, without aerial refueling. Israel took full advantage of the F-35’s sensor fusion, stealth capabilities and electronic attack, flying nearly 2,000 kilometers with a full load, silently and unseen.
- The F-35s were not detected.
- They were not warned.
- They were not threatened.
- And they all turned back,” said an Israeli official.
The ultimate collaboration: F-16I Sufa and F-15I Ra’am
Alongside the Adir were the F-16I Sufa and F-15I Ra’am, multi-role fighters equipped with advanced Elbit targeting helmets, AESA radars, smart munitions, and SAM evasion systems. The F-16 Sufa carries 11 hard payloads, capable of carrying everything from JDAM and Paveway bombs to Python 5 and AGM-65 Maverick missiles.
The F-15Is, with their formidable range and firepower, carried out the deepest strikes on the underground Natanz facilities. They are the very same fighters that in 2007 flattened the Syrian nuclear program in Operation Orchard.
Target: Tehran’s Nuclear Dream
According to the official statement of the Israeli General Staff: “Israeli forces struck critical uranium enrichment infrastructure in the Natanz area including multi-story underground facilities, centrifuges and electrical support systems.
Tehran was surprised — and beheaded
The Israeli Air Force didn’t just strike facilities. It also neutralized Iran’s military leadership.
- The chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces
- The commander of the Revolutionary Guards
- The head of the Crisis Response Center
- And dozens of scientists, nuclear engineers, and technicians
All were killed almost simultaneously — by a combination of missile strikes and sabotage operations on the ground.
This action is not just a slowdown operation, but a move to completely dismantle the Iranian nuclear program, just weeks before the estimated ‘point of no return’ for the construction of a nuclear weapon.”
The October 2024 strike was the prelude
As early as October 2024, the Israeli Air Force had neutralized Iran’s advanced anti-aircraft systems in a silent teeth-pulling mission.
This gap in defense paved the way for the success of the current operation. In addition, Israeli operations in Syria have neutralized regional radars and control centers, cutting off Iran from any ability to coordinate or predict.
And now what? The world is waiting for the answer. The question that lingers is: Will Iran respond or not?
So far, there has been no serious military response. All that has happened is the launch of dozens of drones — most of which have been shot down.
The military toll is heavy:
- Strategic centers destroyed
- Critical scientists neutralized
- Military leadership beheaded
- And the world awaits to see if Tehran will strike back — or retreat
Conclusion: Technology wins wars before they start
Israel has proven something crucial: air, cyber, and intelligence superiority is not a “luxury” but a survival requirement. F-35, F-15, and F-16 fighter jets, when combined with real-time data, satellite coverage, and sabotage operations, turn a seemingly impossible operation into a clear victory with no casualties.
And now, the entire world is watching Iran — and holding its breath.
