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Source: https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjlouowefx
IDF General: U.S. Planes Nearly Exposed Israel's Opening Strike on Iran
(Ynet News) Ron Crissy - Brig.-Gen. (ret.) R. commanded the Israeli Air Force control center on the night of the first strikes on Iran on June 13, 2025 - the start of the 12-Day War. He recalled, "The moment our aircraft took off toward Iran, U.S. planes routinely stationed in Iraq unexpectedly landed at their bases, clearing the skies. We could clearly see the Iranians saying to themselves, 'If the skies over Iraq have cleared, maybe the Israelis are coming for us tonight.'" "The Air Force commander immediately called senior CENTCOM officers and asked them to take off again at once and restore the usual aerial picture. In the spirit of the excellent cooperation we have with them, they said, 'Whatever you need, we're with you. What do you need?' The Air Force commander told them, 'Do exactly what you did yesterday at this time.'" By then, however, Iran had already realized that something was happening and targets began moving. "We instructed our aircraft to hold just minutes before releasing their munitions," R. said. Then, Israeli defense officials detected that the Iranian side was beginning to relax. Fearing that the targets might disperse to different locations, then-Air Force commander Maj.-Gen. Tomer Bar ordered personnel to "make a little noise so their suspicions would return." Not only did the senior Iranian commanders remain in place, but more officials arrived after being summoned for consultations. "At 2:43 a.m., our first munitions struck their targets. We fired the opening shot with great success, and the entire Air Force took off. Its targets included command-and-control sites, surface-to-surface missile sites and air-superiority targets - everything we had defined in advance. From that point, the blitz began, wave after wave after wave, in a highly impressive manner."