Fact Check: Over the course of 36 hours since the start of the war against Iran, the Israeli air force has eliminated Iranian air defenses that could threaten Israeli fighter jets on their way to Tehran.

Fact Check: "Over the course of 36 hours since the start of the war against Iran, the Israeli air force has eliminated Iranian air defenses that could threaten Israeli fighter jets on their way to Tehran."

What We Know

Recent reports indicate that the Israeli military launched extensive airstrikes against Iran, targeting various military and nuclear sites. According to the New York Times, the Israeli air force attacked dozens of targets, including military bases and key nuclear facilities, and claimed to have degraded Iran's air defense capabilities significantly. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that they achieved "freedom of operation" above Tehran after 36 hours of conflict, which suggests a substantial reduction in Iranian air defenses (Axios, Breitbart).

However, despite these claims, reports from Iranian state media indicate that Iranian air defenses were still operational and attempting to repel Israeli strikes as late as Saturday morning (New York Times). This suggests that while Israel may have inflicted significant damage, it is unclear whether all Iranian air defenses capable of threatening Israeli aircraft were completely eliminated.

Analysis

The claim that the Israeli air force has eliminated Iranian air defenses is partially true. The IDF's assertion of achieving "freedom of operation" implies that they have significantly disrupted Iranian air defenses, allowing their aircraft to operate with less risk. The New York Times and Axios report that the Israeli strikes targeted advanced air defense systems, which supports the claim that Israel has made considerable progress in neutralizing these threats.

However, the Iranian response indicates that some air defense systems were still active. Reports of Iranian air defenses attempting to intercept Israeli strikes (New York Times) and Iranian missiles penetrating Israeli air defenses (AP News) suggest that not all defenses were eliminated. Furthermore, the ongoing conflict and the complexity of military engagements mean that claims of total destruction of air defenses should be viewed with caution.

The sources used in this analysis vary in reliability. The New York Times and Axios are reputable news organizations with a history of accurate reporting, while other sources like Breitbart may carry a more partisan perspective. Therefore, while the IDF's claims are credible, they should be interpreted alongside reports indicating that Iranian defenses were still operational.

Conclusion

The claim that the Israeli air force has completely eliminated Iranian air defenses is partially true. While there is evidence that Israel has significantly degraded these defenses, reports indicate that some capabilities remain operational. The situation is fluid, and further developments may alter the current understanding of the effectiveness of Israeli strikes against Iranian air defenses.

Sources

1. What to Know About Israel's Strikes and Iran's Retaliation
2. Iranian missiles penetrated Israel's air defenses Friday. How ironclad ...
3. Israeli air force achieved freedom of operation in Tehran's ...
4. Israel Air Force Wins Freedom of Operation Above Tehran
5. Israel reportedly strikes Iranian gas field, oil refinery, two rockets ...
6. 3 Israeli fatalities, widespread damage from Iranian rockets
7. LIVE UPDATES: Israel strikes Iran
8. Israel attacks Iran and declares emergency over expected 'missile and ...