Gallant: Iran strikes were most significant Air Force operation since Six Day War, changed ‘balance of power’

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says Iran’s air defenses and missile production capabilities have been weakened by Israel’s strikes, calling it “a change in the balance of power.”

The remarks are made shortly after the IDF’s strikes on Iran late Friday, but only released by Gallant’s office now.

“The response seems very precise, high-quality, and deadly for what we wanted to hit and I think the IDF has not done an operation like this, the Air Force has not done an operation like this since Operation Focus,” Gallant says to top IAF officials and IDF chief of staff, referring to the opening strikes of the 1967 Six Day War.

“This is a proof of ability… A very accurate hit on the radars and the air defense systems, which actually creates a big disadvantage for the enemy when we want to attack later,” he says.

Gallant says that the strikes also damaged Iran’s missile production capabilities and now its stockpiles are limited until manufacturing can resume.

He says the damage to the air defenses and missile production caused “a change in the balance of power.”

“[Israel] remains with its power, [Iran] is weakened. Both in [our] attacking ability and in its defensive ability and in its production ability,” Gallant adds.