Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson, BG Effie Defrin-March 1, 2026

Good morning,

We are now on the second day of Operation Roaring Lion.

We launched the operation in order to strike the Iranian terrorist regime and remove existential threats to the State of Israel over the long term.

Over the past day, we have significantly degraded the regime, its command-and-control targets, its aerial defense systems, and its missile array. We have achieved meaningful accomplishments - and many targets still lie ahead.

In the opening strike of the operation, the IDF eliminated 40 commanders and senior officials from the Iranian regime in one minute.

Overnight, we continued and expanded the strikes throughout Iran.

We are paving the way to the heart of Iran - all the way to the city of Tehran.

We struck Iranian defense systems and expanded the Israeli Air Force’s aerial superiority over Iranian skies.

Israeli Air Force fighter jets are operating around the clock to locate and strike missile arrays belonging to the Iranian terrorist regime.

Thus far, we have thwarted dozens of missile launchers that were prepared to launch toward Israel’s home front.

This is a real and existential threat to the State of Israel.

This is the threat we are operating to remove — and will continue to remove over the long term.

During Operation “Rising Lion”, we dismantled approximately half of the Iranian regime’s missile stockpiles and prevented the production of at least 1,500 additional missiles.

The regime’s missile production rate recently stood at dozens of surface-to-surface missiles per month. The regime intended to increase that production rate to hundreds of missiles per month.

As I said yesterday, we began the operation with an initial strike in which we eliminated numerous senior officials in the Iranian terrorist regime.

It can now be stated that, in an effective and precise strike by Israeli Air Force aircraft, guided by the IDF Intelligence Directorate, we eliminated the mass murderer and the architect of the plan to annihilate Israel, Ali Khamenei.

Khamenei led the Iranian terrorist regime for decades and directed terrorist activity against the State of Israel and the entire Western world.

He is the head of the Iranian Axis of Terror, which extended its arms throughout the Middle East. On his hands is the blood of those murdered and massacred in the October 7th massacre.

Alongside the elimination of Khamenei, we eliminated Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces.

Mousavi was one of Iran’s most senior commanders and had served as the successor to the Chief of General Staff who was eliminated in the opening strike of Operation “Rising Lion”.

From the outset of the war, we have operated to degrade the Axis of Terror led by Khamenei. We eliminated Hassan Nasrallah, the Sinwar brothers, Mohammed Deif, and Ali Karki; we struck senior Iranian regime officials in Operation “Rising Lion” and eliminated the leadership of the Houthi terrorist organization.

This is a message to all those who seek our annihilation - know that the long arm of the IDF will reach you.

Citizens of Israel, over the past day, the IDF Home Front Command has operated together with emergency and rescue services at several impact sites across the country.

In some of these locations, civilians were injured as a result of the impact, and in one of them, an Israeli resident was killed.

I share in the family’s grief and embrace them during these difficult times.

Despite the outstanding activity of the IDF’s aerial defense array, the defense is not hermetic.

These are critical hours in which all of us must continue to follow the Home Front Command’s guidelines - they save lives.

I am aware of the challenge and difficulty of these prolonged stays in protective spaces, but remember: entering a protected space upon receiving an alert saves lives.

We are operating to remove an existential threat.

Your resilience and patience are essential.

We will get through this.

Together.

Even at this moment, we continue to strike with determination throughout Iran and will do so as long as required.

We are operating to suppress the fire directed at Israel.

The Chief of the General Staff has instructed to enhance the operation, dismantle the launchers, and suppress the fire.

As I said yesterday, we are also closely monitoring the additional arenas, with emphasis on the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon.

I emphasize clearly - every launch, every act of terror against the State of Israel will be met with a strong response.

We will not allow harm to the civilians of Israel.

The IDF is prepared to defend the civilians of Israel in all arenas, near and far.

The Chief of the General Staff and IDF commanders are leading the operation with responsibility and determination. We will continue to operate to remove any threat to the security of the State of Israel.

I will continue to be here with you and to provide updates on any further developments.

Questions?

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