Experts say that Israel's targeted response against Iran has sent new warnings to the regime about the IDF's capabilities.

On October 26, Israel conducted a strategic airstrike in Iran, which was its largest operation ever. This marked a significant escalation in the conflict between the two countries. The airstrikes targeted critical military infrastructure, delivering both a symbolic and tactical blow to Iran's strategic capabilities.

According to Ram Ben-Barak, former deputy director of the Mossad, we demonstrated our ability to reach any location in Iran by neutralizing air defenses and flying undetected, achieving our objectives with precision.

On Saturday morning, Israeli air force jets carried out a complex mission involving dozens of aircraft, including fighter jets, intelligence, refueling and rescue units, and struck 20 targets across Iran during the operation named "Days of Repentance." After about four hours, all aircraft returned safely to Israel, marking the successful completion of the mission. The strikes were conducted at a distance of just under 1,000 miles.

An initial assault on Iran's air defense systems was followed by more than 100 airplanes targeting missile and drone bases, as well as weapons production sites.

Ben-Barak, a former member of Yesh Atid in Israel's Parliament, highlighted Israel's technological and operational superiority in contrast to Iran's prior attacks on Israeli territory, which were often intercepted or missed their targets.

Despite Iranian officials downplaying the impact of the attack, claiming only "limited damage" on military sites, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amos Gilad believes there was an added element of wisdom in the strike. According to Gilad, the market in Tehran was open on Saturday as usual, just hours after the attack, because no civilian areas were hit.

A former Israeli senior security official, who requested anonymity due to security concerns, revealed to Planet Chronicle Digital that the targeted sites were strategically chosen. A drone manufacturing facility, missile factory, SA-300 air defense systems, and planetary mixers were hit. Although not all of Iran's air defenses were taken down, three or four SA-300 batteries were struck. As a result, Iran's air defense was severely impacted, although they likely have an S-400 system from Russia and additional simpler air defense systems they built themselves.

Independent analysis and satellite imagery show that Iranian missile and drone production centers were severely damaged, while Israel only targeted military and intelligence sites.

Israeli intelligence analyst Ronen Solomon claims that additional strikes were carried out on storage and assembly points in Khojir, near Tehran, which have long been linked to Iran's missile development. Solomon stated to Planet Chronicle Digital Israel that these strikes "neutralized components of Iran's missile production pipeline," thereby cutting off access to crucial parts for future production.

"Israeli intelligence has long suspected nuclear-related tests in Parchin, and recent strikes hit infrastructure supporting Iran's nuclear facilities, allowing Israel to sidestep political barriers while delivering a strong blow to Iran's military operations," Solomon explained.

Solomon stated that Israel's attack negatively affected Iran's satellite-launch capabilities, which is a crucial element of Iran's military satellite program, beyond just impacting their missile program.

Coordination with Washington played a significant role in shaping the mission's scope, even though Israel acted independently. Gilad emphasized the extensive diplomatic communication between Israel and the U.S. before the strike, noting that there was impressive coordination, even though the U.S. didn't participate in the attack itself.

A former senior intelligence official stated that this cooperation involved the creation of air routes over Iraqi airspace.

Gilad stated that the American F-35 jets, being fifth-generation capabilities, provide a vital defense layer against Iran. The U.S. has demonstrated exceptional support, including deploying THAAD defense batteries. The U.S.-Israel alliance is critical, and Gilad emphasized that it is not just ironclad but steelclad, as steel does not rust.

The objective of limiting Iran's retaliatory options was shared by both nations, particularly in light of the upcoming U.S. elections. According to the former senior intelligence official, "The Americans were concerned about striking nuclear or energy sites directly, and we respected their concerns."

Gilad pointed out that the selective targeting of the attack was a well-calculated restraint. He stated that some in Israel criticized the lack of direct hits on oil or nuclear facilities, but targeting such sites could destabilize global markets, strengthen Russia, or lead to attacks on Arab states.

If the terror regime responds, Israel's "Days of Repentance" strikes against Iran will continue, the IDF warns.

The former senior intelligence official stated that Iran, cognizant of the political implications in Washington, may delay its reaction to prevent tension from intensifying and potentially swaying the elections in favor of former President Donald Trump, whom Iran views as a threat.

In a public statement, LTG Herzi Halevi, Chief of the General Staff, affirmed that Israel's message is clear: "Any threat, anywhere, at any time, we will know how to reach it, we will know how to strike." Halevi emphasized that Israel has only deployed a portion of its capabilities, implying that further actions could be taken if Iran escalates.

Although the operation was successful, Israeli officials are still cautious about its long-term effects. Ben-Barak stated, "Iran has learned that Israel can strike at will within its borders, but the challenge remains preventing them from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran aims to eliminate Israel, and we cannot allow them to have nuclear weapons. This is also U.S. policy. I always inform my American counterparts, 'You have nothing to fear from the Iranians.' We must work together to eliminate the threat."

To sustain the pressure, political coordination with the U.S. is crucial after the election, as Gilad concluded. These strikes should give Iran pause, considering the U.S.'s commitment to preventing a nuclear Iran.