The Israel Defense Forces announced on Wednesday that the Israeli Air Force has carried out more than 800 strike sorties against Iran as part of Operation Roaring Lion. The operations utilized approximately 16,000 munitions and struck over 5,000 new targets, including infrastructure in Tehran and facilities linked to chemical weapons development.

The milestone comes over a month into the conflict that began on February 28, 2026, when Israel and the United States launched coordinated airstrikes on Iranian military, nuclear, and government sites. Codenamed Operation Epic Fury by the U.S. and Roaring Lion by Israel, the initial waves involved over 200 Israeli fighter jets dropping more than 1,200 bombs on 500 targets in western and central Iran within the first 24 hours. The strikes aimed to degrade Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, air defenses, and nuclear program, which Israel cited as existential threats.

Among recent achievements, the IDF reported eliminating Mahdi Vafaei, head of the Quds Force's Lebanon Corps engineering branch, in central Iran. Vafaei oversaw underground projects for Hezbollah and the Assad regime. Fighter jets also destroyed a research facility of the Tofiq Daru Company, which supplied chemicals, including fentanyl, to Iran's SPND organization for weapons development. Across all fronts, approximately 7,000 targets have been hit in joint IDF-U.S. operations.

Iran has responded with multiple waves of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israel, U.S. bases in the Gulf, and regional allies. Tehran launched Operation True Promise IV shortly after the initial strikes, firing hundreds of projectiles. Iranian missiles have struck Israeli cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa, causing civilian injuries and damage. Yemen's Houthis joined the fray in late March, firing missiles at Israel.

Casualty figures vary. Iranian sources reported nearly 1,900 dead and 20,000 injured as of late March, while human rights groups estimated over 3,500 killed, including civilians. U.S. and Israeli estimates claim over 6,000 Iranian military personnel killed. In Israel, at least 34 people have died from Iranian attacks, with thousands injured. The IDF also reported killing over 800 Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon amid the escalation.

The war has disrupted global energy markets, with Iran partially closing the Strait of Hormuz and oil prices surging. No ceasefire is in sight, as negotiations have stalled and strikes continue on multiple fronts.