Israel-Iran war: IAF gains air superiority over Iran, fighter jets carrying out ‘stand-in’ operations above Tehran, claims Katz

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday claimed that the Israeli Air Force has gained air superiority in Iran and is striking Tehran with “stand-in” munitions, which means Israeli planes are flying in the Iranian skies and dropping warheads directly on their targets.

“For the first time in Operation Roaring Lion, air force aircraft are operating in ‘stand-in’ over the skies of Tehran in a powerful strike against regime and repression targets,” Katz said.

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Earlier on Saturday, Israel and the US had launched Operation Roaring Lion against Iran, targeting the country’s top leadership and key military sites. On the first day, attacks were stand-off strikes as the US and Israeli aircraft fired long-range weapons from a safe distance.

However, with the war entering its second day, Israel has gained the ability to launch stand-in bombs after the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that it has “opened the way to Tehran.”

‼️ The video outlines the phases of the operation: targeting air defense systems and missile launchers in western Iran, then paving the way toward Tehran and establishing aerial superiority over the capital. pic.twitter.com/STDYyyZvG3

— LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) March 1, 2026

Meanwhile, the IDF has published new footage showing airstrikes against Iranian ballistic missile launchers, air defenses, and drones. The Israeli military has been pounding Iran since the start of the war on Saturday. The IDF has claimed that it has destroyed several Iranian missile launchers and the country’s air defence systems since yesterday.

Iran raises red flag of revenge above Jamkaran Mosque in Qom after Khamenei’s death in US-Israeli strikes

The strikes have already killed several of Iran’s top political and military leaders, including its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), General Mohammad Pakpour, and Secretary of Iran’s Defence Council, Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani.

Iran has also launched retaliatory strikes, targeting both Israel and the US military bases in the Middle East despite US President Donald Trump’s warning.

After Khamenei’s death, Iran vowed to take revenge, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian saying, “The Islamic Republic of Iran considers it its legitimate duty and right to avenge the perpetrators and masterminds of this historic crime.”