עברית
Inside the Countdown: New Footage Reveals Israel's Prep for Operation "Lion's Roar"
The IDF released the text of the order to go to war against Iran and shared behind-the-scenes moments leading up to Operation "Lion's Roar" — from joint assessments with the U.S. to tense briefings in the Air Force bunker.
Zamir during a situational assessment in the Air Force bunker (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
The IDF Spokesperson released new footage today (Sunday) from the run-up to the launch of Operation "Lion's Roar." According to the IDF, the operation was intended to remove an immediate threat to the State of Israel and to strike enemy infrastructure and capabilities, as part of what it defined as: "creating long-term regional change."
According to the IDF's announcement, the operation got underway about a month ago, following a period of intensive operational preparations that had begun days earlier. As part of the preparations, there were ongoing situational assessments, intelligence updates, approval of operational plans, and broad inter-branch coordination. The IDF emphasized that the preparations also included a multi-front review of threats until conditions matured for issuing the launch order.
The released footage shows the IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, in a series of meetings and situational assessments—including a meeting with American partners before the operation opened. This was alongside discussions in the Air Force bunker and in the Intelligence Directorate. In one of the clips, the Chief of Staff appears together with the head of Military Intelligence and the head of the Operations Directorate during a situational assessment at the Intelligence Directorate, shortly before the final decisions were made.
In addition, the Operations Directorate's order to launch the operation was also published, formulated after the plans were approved and the overall preparations completed. The materials also document conversations with field personnel, including a conversation the Chief of Staff held with maintenance crews at the Air Force's Hazerim base, as well as a commanders' talk led by the Air Force commander, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, before the operation began.
אלוף תומר בר בשיח מפקדים טרם פתיחת מבצע (צילום: דובר צה״ל)
זמיר עם צוותי התחזוקה בבסיס חצרים של חיל האוויר (צילום: דובר צה״ל)
הערכת מצב באגף המודיעין לפני היציאה למבצע (צילום: דובר צה״ל)
