Israel’s war cabinet is on a war footing tonight after a US Navy strike sent an Iranian warship to the bottom of the Gulf. Within hours, the IDF’s air force chief declared that Israeli jets are “on their way to make history,” hinting at a sweeping new phase of the conflict that could redraw the map of Iran’s military power.

Across southern and central Israel, F‑35I “Adir” stealth jets and heavily armed F‑15 strike fighters have been seen lifting off in waves, loaded with long‑range stand‑off missiles and bunker‑busting bombs. Military censors are tight‑lipped, but leaks from within the security establishment point to a multi‑night campaign aimed at three pillars of Iranian strength:

• IRGC missile brigades along the Gulf and near Iraq
• Drone and cyber‑warfare hubs around Tehran and Isfahan
• Air‑defence clusters shielding sensitive nuclear‑adjacent facilities

The message, officials suggest, is clear: after Washington’s show of force at sea, Jerusalem intends to break Iran’s ability to project power by air and missile—not just for days, but for years.

Tehran has responded with fury, warning that any “historic” Israeli operation will trigger “total regional war”, with missiles and proxy militias striking Israel, US bases and Arab capitals alike. Yet inside Israel, commentators say the leadership believes the window for decisive action is now—or never.

As jets vanish into the night carrying classified target lists, the question gripping world capitals is stark: will this be remembered as the operation that finally shattered Iran’s war machine—or the misstep that ignites the widest Middle East conflict of this generation?