Senior security official: ‘It wasn’t a round, it was a fire exchange. We used only 5% of our power’

After Israel halted its strikes in Iran, a senior security official said this afternoon, Monday, that the Air Force “used only 5 percent of its power” and added, “The IDF received orders from the political echelon to stop the attacks.” According to him, “There was no round, because we did not start one. It was a ‘fire exchange.’ If we had continued, we would have continued with full force.”

During the operation, the same official said, eight advanced Iranian surface-to-air missile launchers and two radars were struck. Dozens of fighter jets took part in the strikes, mostly F-16s. Meanwhile, the Iranians fired 22 missiles, but none landed in a populated area. The official also addressed international involvement and revealed that, contrary to denials in the United States, the Americans took an active part and actually helped intercept the missiles. Regarding the northern front and threats from Lebanon, he stressed, “If there is an interception, we will intercept.”

In addition, Defense Minister Israel Katz stressed that “the Dahieh in Beirut is treated the same as the communities in the north. Any attack on the communities in the north will lead to an attack in Dahieh. The IDF will continue to operate in Lebanon against Hezbollah.” Katz added that Israel “completely rejects Iran’s threats. Any Iranian attempt to link Lebanon and Iran and attack Israel will be met with great force, as happened yesterday.”

Earlier, Iran announced that it was stopping its fire, and shortly before that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke. Reports later said there were Israeli strikes in the Tyre area in Lebanon, and at the same time an Israeli official said, “Israel will respond if it is attacked,” but “the feeling is that this round is behind us. We are waiting for a final decision from the political echelon.”

About two hours before the Iranian announcement, Trump warned in a post on his social network TRUTH that “Israel and Iran must stop the fire immediately,” despite earlier comments from IDF officials saying, “We are in full coordination with the United States.” Trump later posted again, writing: “Both sides, Israel and Iran, want a complete ceasefire. The final negotiations for ‘peace’ are underway, subject to the holes or stupidity that may stand in its way. Sanctions will remain in effect, and at full strength, until a ‘final deal’ is reached. Things must move quickly.”

Last night, after the launches toward Israel began and before the Israeli response, President Trump addressed Iran and said, “You fired your missiles, that’s enough. Go back to negotiations and sign a deal.” Trump told the Financial Times that the Iranian attack on Israel would have “no effect” on the negotiations, and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have “no choice” but to accept an agreement with Iran. Trump added, “I set the lines. I set all the lines. He does not set the lines.”