On 1 october 2024, in the context of the operation codenamed Operation True Promise 2, Iran launched reportedly about 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel in two waves. It was the largest attack during the Iran-Israel conflict. It was also the second attack by Iran against Israel after the one which took place on april 2024.
The attack was considered by Teheran as a legitimate reaction to the Israel’s killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Teheran as well as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC General Abbas Nilforoushan.
At that time different reports have been presented over the results of the respective strikes, with assessments varying according to the sources. Teheran claimed that this time, in comparison with april, the attack was more intense and overcame most of the Israeli defense systems, however no major damages were reported publicly by Israel. US navy and Jordan intercepted some missiles. The Nevatim Airbase in the Negev was reportedly hit together with Tel Nof Airbase and an area in Tel Aviv close to the Headquarters of Israel Mossad and Unit 8200, the intelligence Unit of the IDF subordinate to Aman, the military intelligence Directorate. On the other hand, it was widely reported that as a reaction, Israel hit the Iran Air Defense Systems, neutralising big part of it (the figures vary according to the sources).
IRGC’s linked Javan quotes Brigadier General Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Forces (since 2009), offering some interesting insights over how things went during the two phases of the operation va’de-ye sadeq.
Among the interesting points Hajizadeh admits that “in recent incidents, we had damage to the anti-ballistic defense, this is a shortcoming”. He adds that the goal now is to equip Teheran and some major cities with anti-ballistic defense systems and in this regard a project started almost three years ago.
I report here the translation of his comments:
Javan Online: In response to the question, “Over the past two years, many developments have occurred in the world and especially in the region, some of which are related to the Islamic Republic,” Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Air Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said on the National Media’s “Frontline” program: “In your opinion, who was at the center of these developments and decisions, what are the most important ones?” He said: “The beginning of this period of developments began with Operation Storm Al-Aqsa by Palestinian fighters. Of course, many developments have occurred in the West Asian region, and this region has been the source of many global incidents. But the recent period began with Storm Al-Aqsa; an operation that was designed and executed by Hamas and practically resulted in a strategic defeat for the Zionist regime. This was an important event. The Zionist regime failed in terms of intelligence, security, and military, and its credibility that it had built over decades was lost.
According to Fars, he added: “The Palestinian fighters were able to impose this defeat on the Zionist enemy. As the Supreme Leader said in those days, this defeat is irreparable, and now, after a year and a half, the whole world has understood this truth.”
Referring to the hostile characteristics of the Zionist regime, Sardar Hajizadeh said: “From the beginning, the Zionist regime was based on force and oppression and has invested a lot in these issues. However, the image it created of itself was a confessional one. However, in addition to the defeats they suffered in Operation Storm of Al-Aqsa, they also failed in negotiations, prisoner exchanges, and not achieving their desired goals, and they did not achieve the goals they had set for themselves.”
He continued: “During this period, despite the restrictions, Hamas forces carried out many operations and claimed more than 61,000 martyrs, most of whom were civilians such as children and women. But these costs brought great achievements for the Islamic world. The face of the Zionists was not known before, but after these events, global awareness and awakening was formed regarding the oppression of Palestine, and this was a great event.”
Sardar Hajizadeh emphasized: “It is true that this incident had great costs for us and the Muslims of the world, but it brought about great awakenings. For half a century ago, Imam Khomeini (RA) and the Supreme Leader had always emphasized the importance of Palestine, and today this issue has become global. This defeat was a strategic damage that was inflicted on the Zionist regime that cannot be repaired in any way, and its effects will be more visible in the future.”
The commander of the IRGC’s Aerospace Force said about the “True Promise” operations: “Operation True Promise was carried out in two stages; first in Farvardin and then “True Promise 2.” These operations were the result of a miscalculation by the Zionist regime, which took action against our consulate and thought that Iran might not respond directly because it wanted to avoid war. This was a miscalculation that they committed and repeated again. We have red lines that they were unable to recognize, and this consensus led to these operations being carried out.”
He added: “Our people are aware of these operations in terms of information and news, but it must be emphasized that, according to the statements of the Zionist regime officials, Westerners, and think tanks, the world’s largest ballistic missile operation was carried out by the Islamic Republic. We had this power for a long time, but we had kept it to defend the people and the system and used it where necessary. This operation was one of the largest in history and tried to carry out the greatest defense against the Zionist regime.”
Sardar Hajizadeh said: After Operation Storm Al-Aqsa, the Zionist regime collapsed and the Americans entered the scene to take over the management of the situation. If this had not happened, the Zionist regime would never have been able to survive. The United States brought four ships to the region, two on the Mediterranean coast and two in the Red Sea, and a number of ships to defend these ships, and in addition, it began training and advertising the THAAD missile defense system, which of course was already deployed in the occupied territories; in addition, the Zionist regime’s anti-missile defense systems are also known in the world and they predicted a good and strong possibility.
He added: “All the radar networks of the countries in the region, from the Persian Gulf to Jordan, were under the management of CENTCOM and the United States. Even if we fired a ballistic missile from Shiraz, its radar information would be transmitted to the Zionist regime and Jordan. However, in Operation Promise of Truth 2, more than 75 percent of our missiles hit, and the shots and hits were broadcast to the world. In this operation, the Zionist regime suffered a major defeat despite all its facilities and defenses, and a collapse occurred in their defense system. Its films show that the Zionist regime’s anti-ballistic missiles mistakenly hit each other and, in the end, some of them passed through their defense shield and hit Tel Aviv.”
Regarding the damages caused to the Zionist regime and the United States, Sardar Hajizadeh said: “The complaints that more than 2,500 people have filed with insurance companies due to the damages caused indicate that most of these damages were caused by the regime’s own missiles. Even the missiles that are fired are mistakenly responded to by their own defense systems before reaching their target and die. This was a major defeat for the Zionist regime and the United States, because they brought all their forces to the field.”
The IRGC Air Force Commander continued: “In Operation Promise of Truth 1, the American ships that were capable and had a total of 200 missiles ready to fire were able to fire 8 missiles in the end, and in Promise of Truth 2, only 12 missiles; but in Operation Promise of Truth 2, we hit 75 percent of our missiles on target by the grace of God.”
He added: “In the Sadegh I mission, we launched about 160 drones, which is considered the largest drone operation in the world. This shows that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a powerful country.”
Sardar Hajizadeh added: They used the greatest defenses against the Zionist regime’s facilities, which included ground bases, air bases, and air support from the United States, Britain, France, and Jordan. These five countries, in addition to the region’s radar facilities, had placed 203 aircraft in the sky to confront us. However, we carried out the greatest invasion, and they said that if this operation had continued a little longer, they would have failed. An American F-15 pilot said in an interview that 20 minutes after the flight and the conflict, he realized that he had no missiles and wanted to land, but they did not allow him and said that he had to fly until the last drop of fuel he had.
He concluded by noting: “They are trying to create a false image of reality through cognitive operations. As Westerners have explicitly stated, it doesn’t matter what reality is; what matters is the image that is created of reality.”
In response to the enemy’s attempts to reflect the reverse of the victories, General Hajizadeh said: “With these great victories, they are trying to present a reverse image of the situation, that Iran has become weak. But where has Iran become weak? We have power today, and no one can deny this power. In recent operations, instead of 150 drones, we could easily launch 500 or a thousand drones. This is the Islamic Republic’s capability today. I must say that there were limitations on missiles, and we even bargained for the number of missiles.”
The IRGC’s Aerospace Commander noted: “In Operation ‘True Promise,’ 200 missiles were fired, but officials were asking what was happening “in terms of numbers” and what had happened. So think about it, if we increase this number to 500 or 1,000 in the future, what mistake would the enemy want to make?”
In another part of his speech about anti-ballistic defense missile systems, General Hajizadeh said: “In recent incidents, we have suffered damage from anti-ballistic defense. This is a deficiency that exists in the country. In the field of anti-ballistic defense, in every meeting that is held, General Salami, General Bagheri, and I follow up on this issue. A project that started almost three years ago, God willing, its first products will be released next year. Our goal is to equip Tehran and some major cities with anti-ballistic defense systems.”
He added: “We currently have defense against drones, aircraft, and cruise missiles, which is being developed day by day, but we did not have a system in the anti-ballistic sector until today. Fortunately, we have focused on this area and God willing, with the prayers of the noble Iranian nation, we will soon achieve this goal and be able to complete our defense in this sector.”