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Tel Aviv — In a bold shift in operational efficiency, Israeli Air Force (IAF) pilots diverted unused air-to-surface munitions from defense missions over Iran to support ground operations in Gaza, significantly intensifying airstrikes during the peak of Operation Rising Lion, military officials confirmed.
Initially launched in response to mass missile and drone attacks from Iran, the IAF’s primary objective was aerial defense. Fighter jets tasked with intercepting UAVs and long-range missiles carried additional armaments in anticipation of further escalation.
Once their primary mission was completed, some pilots initiated contact with the combat control center in Gaza, offering to deploy remaining munitions on pre-approved Hamas targets. The offer quickly transformed into doctrine.
“The suggestion from the pilots was welcomed immediately,” said an official within the Israeli Air Force. “It demonstrated operational creativity, resource optimization, and real-time responsiveness to the needs of ground units engaged in heavy combat.”
Major-General Tomer Bar, Commander of the Israel Air Force, swiftly endorsed the initiative. Within hours, the practice was adopted as standard protocol across all squadrons involved in the Iran defense missions.
“This enabled us to significantly expand our striking capability in Gaza without launching new aircraft,” Bar reportedly told senior military staff.
From that point forward, fighter jets returning from missions defending Israeli skies flew over the Gaza Strip, where they delivered precision strikes based on ground force intelligence. The focus areas included northern Gaza and Khan Yunis, where IDF troops were engaged in complex urban warfare.
An IAF source explained that the move maximized Israel’s combat effectiveness. “Instead of dispatching new planes from the ground for every airstrike, we utilized jets already in the air, loaded and capable. It saved time, fuel, and manpower while keeping the pressure on Hamas.”
During the 12 days of intense combat with Iran, Gaza experienced one of its heaviest barrages of airstrikes in recent months. The dual-theater operations demonstrated the IDF’s adaptability amid evolving threats from both regional and local fronts.
Military analysts have described the integration of multi-mission sorties as a model of modern warfare logistics. The initiative, which emerged organically from pilot-level decision-making, is now being studied for formal incorporation into future operational planning.
The IDF has yet to provide an official breakdown of targets struck under the expanded directive but confirmed “hundreds of Hamas-related sites” were hit with “strategic precision and coordination with ground units.”
As tensions continue to simmer, Operation Rising Lion may be remembered not just for its defensive feats, but for its tactical ingenuity in maximizing every missile in the sky.