Top Israeli military official reveals operation against Iran involved 'strategic and operational deception'

FIRST ON FOX: As Israel wages what it describes arsenic an existential run against Iran, IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said the warfare has reinforced a cardinal strategical displacement successful however Israel sees itself and its alliances, peculiarly with the United States and determination partners.

"Israel was ne'er portion of this region. We thought we were portion of Europe," helium said. "Since the Abraham Accords started, we are having bully relations with our neighbors. We are portion of this portion now."

He described the 2020 agreements arsenic transformative, gathering connected the bid treaties with Egypt and Jordan. "The subject practice is great. Some of the things are overt and immoderate covert," Defrin said successful his archetypal English-language media interrogation since the opening of the conflict. "Iran is simply a determination threat, and that is wide to everyone now."

But helium stressed the run against Tehran is not lone regional.

"It’s a worldwide problem, it’s a planetary problem, it’s a determination occupation and it’s besides an Israeli problem," helium said. "They are not hitting lone Israel."

Bombing occurs successful Tehran, Iran connected February 28, 2026. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Getty Images)

Months of Deception

The spokesperson revealed that the cognition was preceded by months of strategical deception.

"It was a strategical and operational deception," helium said.

On the eve of the strike, elder officials deliberately maintained regular appearances.

"Friday nighttime we went to meal astatine home. The main of unit and I returned precocious successful cars that were not our authoritative vehicles. The authoritative cars stayed astatine home, and we made definite that from outer imagery it would not look similar the Kirya (ministry of defense) was afloat portion each the planes were equipped and ready."

He said Iran was caught disconnected guard. "For galore agelong months determination was deception, truthful they were surprised. They fired what they had pre-planned successful their preset response."

‘A Mutual Operation’

The spokesperson said the onslaught that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was carried retired successful coordination with the Trump administration. "It was a communal operation," helium said. "The practice betwixt america and the American subject is amazing. We person communal readying and communal executing for the plans successful Iran and beyond."

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People ticker from a rooftop arsenic a plume of fume rises aft a onslaught successful Tehran, Iran, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (Vahid Salemi/AP Photo)

He framed the cognition arsenic portion of unprecedented U.S.-Israeli subject coordination. The full cognition successful Iran is simply a communal and coordinated campaign," helium said.

He besides described a broader planetary dimension. "It’s a occupation with the United States of America arsenic well," helium said, citing attacks by Iranian-backed groups that person killed American work members and threatened shipping lanes.

"They are posing a menace to the Red Sea… the question of naval ships successful the Suez Canal dropped by 90% since the Houthis started shooting astatine ships successful the Bab al-Mandab Strait," helium said. "It’s a planetary problem. It’s a panic regime. They are acting each implicit the world. And again, we had to act."

He added that determination states progressively recognize the threat. "Israel is present to stay. You spot the countries of the portion placing their spot successful Israel."

Strike connected Iranian Targets

Addressing reports that dozens of elder Iranian figures were eliminated successful a onslaught connected Tuesday, including claims that 88 members of Iran’s Assembly of Experts were killed, helium dismissed the figures.

"We struck a fewer targets progressive successful terrorism. We inactive don’t person immoderate conflict harm assessment. Once we person it, we volition people it. It’s excessively early."

He emphasized that the targets were military. "We struck subject targets," helium said. "They are attacking colonisation centers."

According to the spokesperson, Israeli quality shows Iran is deliberately aiming astatine civilians "to nonstop a price," including launches toward civilian infrastructure.

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Rescue workers and subject unit run astatine the country wherever respective radical were killed by an Iranian rocket onslaught successful Beit Shemesh, Israel Sunday, March 1, 2026. (Leo Correa/AP Photo)

War Aims

Explaining the determination to motorboat the campaign, the spokesperson described Iran arsenic an imminent existential threat.

"We didn’t person different choice, unfortunately. It’s an existential imminent threat. This is simply a panic regime," helium said.

"They declared it. Whatever they declared, they did."

Asked whether authorities alteration is an objective, helium drew a favoritism betwixt subject aims and governmental outcomes.

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An detonation is seen arsenic an Iranian rocket straight hits a gathering successful Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (Tomer Neuberg/AP Photo)

"As a subordinate of the military, I cannot accidental we person an purpose to region the regime," helium said. "But definitely, we privation to weaken it and make the conditions that 1 time this authorities volition beryllium removed by its ain people."

As warring expands to Lebanon pursuing renewed Hezbollah fire, helium reiterated Israel’s presumption of Iran arsenic the caput of a determination network.

"Hezbollah is an octopus. The caput of the octopus is successful Iran."

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A firefighter attempts to extinguish a burning car astatine the tract of a nonstop deed from an Iranian rocket onslaught successful Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (Tomer Neuberg/AP Photo)

For Israel, helium said, the run has clarified a strategical world shaped by the Abraham Accords and deepened U.S. cooperation. "We are portion of this portion now."

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