Daijiworld Media Network - Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv, Mar 5: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has accused Iran of escalating tensions across West Asia, asserting that the “Iranian terrorist regime” has shown its willingness to target multiple countries in the region as hostilities continue to intensify.
In an interview, IDF International Spokesperson Lt. Ben Cohen said Israeli forces had shot down an Iranian Yakovlev Yak-130 fighter jet over Tehran early Thursday, while continuing strikes against Iran’s air defence systems and ballistic missile infrastructure.
The military campaign, dubbed Operation Roaring Lion, was launched by Israel with the stated aim of neutralising what it considers a major security threat from Iran.
“We began Operation Roaring Lion on Saturday morning with the primary objective of targeting the Iranian terror regime and eliminating an existential threat to Israel and the entire world,” Cohen said, citing Iran’s ballistic missile programme, alleged nuclear ambitions and network of regional proxy groups.
According to the IDF spokesperson, the operations over the past few days have involved coordinated military actions by Israel and the United States Armed Forces across multiple strategic sites inside Iran. These strikes reportedly targeted ballistic missile facilities, air force assets and naval infrastructure.
Cohen declined to disclose details about possible future military steps but warned that Iran had demonstrated a readiness to escalate conflict in the region.
“The Iranian terrorist regime has made it very clear that they are willing to target everyone around them in the area, and they have done so repeatedly over the last few days,” he said.
Highlighting recent developments, Cohen described the downing of the Iranian aircraft as a significant moment in the operation. Israeli forces, he said, are continuing strikes against missile launchers, defensive systems and other military targets belonging to Iran.
Responding to questions about Iran’s ability to retaliate, Cohen said Israel remains cautious about underestimating its adversaries, especially after the October 7 attacks.
“We cannot afford to underestimate our enemies ever,” he said. “Iran still has the capability to target and harm Israel, particularly Israeli civilians, because it possesses ballistic missiles and has shown a clear intent to use them.”
When asked about the possibility of regime change in Iran or wider regional instability, Cohen said Israel’s focus remains strictly on removing what it considers a direct security threat.
“The goal of Operation Roaring Lion is to eliminate the existential threat posed by the Iranian regime’s military efforts,” he said, referring to the expansion of Iran’s missile arsenal, the alleged concealment of nuclear programmes and the support for armed proxy groups along Israel’s borders.
Cohen also referred to earlier Israeli military actions targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, stating that intelligence assessments had previously indicated an urgent risk linked to Tehran’s nuclear programme.
“We believed we were facing a ticking time bomb,” he said, adding that earlier operations conducted alongside the United States had significantly slowed Iran’s progress toward acquiring nuclear weapons.
According to Cohen, Iran has since attempted to conceal and reinforce its nuclear activities, prompting continued monitoring and military action by Israel.
He further claimed that the initial phase of the operation resulted in the elimination of several senior Iranian military commanders, including the country’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, though he did not provide additional details.
“The objective is to remove the security threat the Iranian regime poses to Israel and to the wider world,” Cohen said.
Addressing speculation about internal political changes in Iran, the IDF spokesperson reiterated that Israel’s campaign is limited to military objectives.
“We are striking military targets to eliminate an existential threat,” he said. “What happens within Iran politically in the future is a matter for the Iranian people.”