Jerusalem/Washington — March 1, 2026 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday released aerial drone footage showing a precision strike on a building in central Tehran, describing it as the first direct attack in the Iranian capital since the launch of its new military campaign, Operation Roaring Lion. The strike forms part of a coordinated United States–Israeli military effort targeting Iranian military, command, and regime-linked infrastructure across multiple cities.
The video, published on the IDF’s official X account, shows a structure in a densely populated urban area being hit, followed by a plume of smoke rising from the site. The IDF described the target as a “headquarters of the Iranian terror regime” and referred to the strike as the “dismantlement” of regime infrastructure.
In its accompanying statement, the military said: “For the first time since the start of Operation ‘Roaring Lion,’ the IAF is striking targets belonging to the Iranian terror regime in the heart of Tehran.” The statement added that over the previous day, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out large-scale strikes to establish aerial superiority and “pave the path to Tehran.”
While official statements referred broadly to “regime infrastructure,” “military command centres,” and “regime targets,” multiple independent reports have linked the building shown in the footage to the headquarters of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Iran’s state broadcaster. The IDF has not explicitly confirmed that the structure was an IRIB facility.
According to operational details released by the IDF, the Tehran strike was part of a broader series of attacks targeting leadership and command nodes. Among the sites reportedly struck were the General Headquarters of the Internal Security Forces, described as a command-and-control center responsible for coordinating government forces and internal security operations.
The IDF also stated that the Tharallah headquarters in Tehran was destroyed. The Tharallah headquarters functions as a defense command structure for Tehran and is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with responsibility for security in the capital region.
Additional strikes reportedly targeted the Interior Ministry headquarters, which coordinates IRGC and Basij militia activities, including responses to domestic unrest. Israeli military updates indicated that dozens of other headquarters were hit in an effort to disrupt organizational capacity and remove heavier weaponry. The stated objective of these strikes was to degrade the regime’s ability to suppress domestic protests and coordinate security operations.
Scale and Scope of Operation Roaring Lion
Operation Roaring Lion is described by Israeli military officials as a multi-stage campaign aimed initially at securing aerial superiority over Iranian airspace. According to IDF figures, approximately 200 Israeli Air Force fighter jets participated in what was described as the largest flyover in IAF history.
During the opening phases of the campaign, aircraft dropped hundreds of munitions on roughly 500 identified objectives concentrated in western and central Iran. Targets included air-defense systems, missile launch arrays, military command centers, and other regime-linked infrastructure.
Across the broader campaign, more than 1,200 bombs and rockets have reportedly been dropped on Iranian military and security sites.
Coordinated US Operation: “Epic Fury”
The Israeli operation is running parallel to United States military actions designated by the US Department of Defense as Operation Epic Fury. On February 28, 2026, US and Israeli forces conducted synchronized strikes across several major Iranian cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah.
According to statements from both governments, the operations were conducted in full coordination and aimed at degrading Iran’s capacity to project military power and manage strategic command networks.
US President Donald Trump described the American role as “major combat operations” against Iran, calling Operation Epic Fury a “massive and ongoing operation” intended to eliminate imminent threats. He linked the campaign to longstanding US concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear development, ballistic missile programs, and support for regional proxy groups.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Operation Roaring Lion and the parallel US action are intended to remove immediate security threats emanating from Tehran. He also framed the campaign as an effort to empower the Iranian population in opposition to the regime.
Additional Reported Damage in Tehran
Reports and satellite imagery circulating after the strikes indicate that political and security-related targets in Tehran were also hit, including the residence compound of Iran’s Supreme Leader. Satellite images reportedly show structural damage within the compound, including collapsed buildings and visible smoke in the aftermath of the strikes.
Israeli military officials have not provided further operational details regarding that specific location, and Iranian authorities have not released a comprehensive damage assessment.
Ongoing Campaign
Military statements from both Israel and the United States indicate that operations remain ongoing. The initial phase continues to prioritize the suppression of Iranian air-defense systems and missile infrastructure, alongside targeted strikes on command and security headquarters.
Both Operation Roaring Lion and Operation Epic Fury are described as multi-stage efforts, with additional operational updates expected as the campaign progresses.
——— End of Article ———
