TEHRAN – A senior Iranian military advisor says as many as 16 Israeli pilots were killed in Iran’s missile attacks on Israel during the Tel Aviv regime’s military aggression against Iran.

On June 13, Israel launched a blatant and unprovoked aggression against Iran, triggering a 12-day war that killed at least 1,064 people in the country, including military commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary people.

The United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of international law.

On June 24, Iran, through its successful retaliatory operations against both the Israeli regime and the U.S., managed to impose a halt on the terrorist aggression.

“More than 500 missiles were fired at the occupied territories during the war,” said Major General Rahim Safavi, a senior military advisor to Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. “The attacks inflicted huge damage to Israeli installations in Haifa and other areas,” said the top general, adding, “Refineries, powerplants and the regime’s research centers were also targeted. At least 16 Israeli pilots were killed.”

He said Tel Aviv has put a news blackout on the true extent of the losses it suffered during the conflict. “The occupying regime prevents the release of details of the damage and casualties inflicted during the 12-day war,” the top commander explained.

“Some of the missiles had such strong impacts that they acted like an earthquake and the destruction affected an area within a radius of 3 kilometers,” said the top general.  

“We were deceived and taken by surprise at the beginning of this conflict, which suggests weakness in the domain of strategic intelligence, and this area should be seriously improved,” noted general Safavi.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed forces highlighted the Iranian military is ready for any future conflict.

“We have extraordinary preparedness for any possible future confrontation,” said Major General Abrorrahim Mousavi after inspecting the Iranian naval forces in the south of the country.

He added the country’s naval troops are ready to accomplish the missions assigned to them, adding, “They are, on a daily basis, rehearsing and updating all defensive and offensive plans to counter the enemy.”