Special forces of Israeli intelligence were deployed deep inside Iranian territory to help prepare tonight's surprise attack on the Islamic Republic, DPA reported, citing several local media outlets quoted by BTA.
The strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military command had been prepared for years, the reports quoting intelligence sources said.
For this purpose, units of the Israeli foreign intelligence service "Mossad" have deployed precision-guided weapons in open areas near Iranian surface-to-air missile systems, as well as high-tech systems against Iranian air defenses, and have established bases for attack drones near Iranian missile sites, the sources said.
At the beginning of the strikes, these systems were remotely guided to their targets and reportedly hit them with extreme accuracy, destroying Iranian air defense positions. This cleared the way for Israeli warplanes and allowed them to move unhindered in Iranian airspace.
The reports indicate that a pre-established drone base near the capital Tehran was used to launch drone attacks against Iranian missile sites, from which the Islamic Republic would launch retaliatory strikes against Israel.
Earlier today, Israeli forces confirmed that they had carried out a large-scale operation against air defense systems in western Iran, the Associated Press notes.
The Israeli military announced that 200 fighter jets participated in its airstrike against Iran, Reuters notes. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) added that they had hit over 100 targets in Iran.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the deaths of its commander, Major General Hossein Salami, and the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Army, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, among other high-ranking military and civilian officials.
For his part, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Israel would receive "severe punishment" after the attack. Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Guard issued a statement saying that Israel would pay a high price for the assassination of Guard commander Gen. Salami.