Israel readies hundreds of warplanes to face Iran, says IRGC commander.

In the north-central Iranian city of Qom, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC’s Aerospace Division, disclosed on Thursday that Israel had placed around 221 warplanes on alert in anticipation of Iran's retaliatory strikes. These strikes, comprising the launch of drones and missiles by the Iranian Armed Forces toward Israeli military bases on April 13, were executed as part of Operation True Promise. This operation was a direct response to Israel's aggression against Iranian diplomatic premises in Damascus on April 1, which tragically resulted in the deaths of two IRGC Quds Force generals and five accompanying officers.

Hajizadeh emphasized that the Israeli regime's assumption that Iran would not retaliate to their aggression was a grave miscalculation. He pointed out that the Iranian retaliation, dubbed Operation True Promise, was executed with only "20 percent" of Iran's military might. Furthermore, Hajizadeh highlighted that Israel, along with its primary ally, the United States, had equipped regional countries to defend against potential damage from Iran's response. This was done in an attempt to thwart the impact of the Iranian operation.

Moreover, Hajizadeh noted the historical significance of Operation True Promise, suggesting that it has marked a pivotal moment in the region's history, dividing it into distinct periods of "before" and "after" the operation. He underscored that the Iranian retaliation has served to embolden the resolve of the regional resistance axis in its ongoing struggle against the occupying regime.