Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Effie Defrin announced Sunday that the “opening strike” of the current operation successfully killed 40 senior Iranian commanders “within a single minute.”Defrin asserted that the offensive effectively neutralized the majority of Iran’s air defense systems across the country’s western and central regions. Al-Qahera News, citing Israeli military sources, reported in a series of urgent bulletins that the IDF has destroyed dozens of Iranian missile launch platforms. The Israeli military reportedly signaled a shift in strategy, confirming it will now intensify strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Source: Egypt Independent March 01, 2026 14:52 UTC