Military Adviser Khamenei Says 16 Israeli Pilots Killed In Iranian Missile Attack

JAKARTA - Senior Iranian generals said the country fired more than 500 missiles that hit Israeli oil refineries, power plants, research centers, and infrastructure during the 12-day war in June, highlighting the widespread damage and death of at least 16 Israeli pilots in one attack.

Speech on the "Sacred Defense Week" commemoration in Qom on Monday, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, Iran's Supreme Leaders adviser Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the United States and Israel failed to achieve their goal in the war of aggression in June and were strategically defeated.

The Israeli regime, which was unable to maintain the campaign, was forced to ask the US to ask for a ceasefire, he said, described it as evidence of the strength of the axis of resistance and Israel's inability to deal with these forces.

General Rahim Safavi noted that a series of Iranian missiles caused severe damage in Haifa and other areas in the occupied region, targeting oil refineries, power plants and research facilities of the Zionist regime, reported Tasnim September 30.

He further said one of the missile attacks on Israeli pilot training centers resulted in the death of at least 16 Israeli pilots, adding Zionist authorities had prevented a complete publication of the details of casualties and material losses from the 12-day war.

Referring to eyewitness reports from within the occupation area, the senior general said some of Iran's missile impacts were so strong that they had an impact "like an earthquake," destroying an area with a radius of up to three kilometers.

Stressing the need to increase Iran's defense and attack capabilities, he said, "The best defense is to attack. If we want peace, we must be ready to fight. A strong nation will block the enemy."

He added that national powers must exceed military forces and include internal resilience.