Tel Aviv, March 5 (NationPress) The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have declared that the Iranian terrorist regime is unequivocally prepared to target anyone in their vicinity in West Asia as regional tensions escalate further.

The Israeli military reported that in the early hours of Thursday, it successfully intercepted an Iranian Yakovlev Yak-130 fighter jet and continues its efforts to strike aerial defense systems and ballistic missile infrastructure within Iran.

In a special discussion with IANS, IDF International Spokesperson Lt Ben Cohen indicated that the current initiative, termed 'Operation Roaring Lion', was initiated to mitigate what Israel perceives as a significant security threat stemming from Iran.

"We commenced 'Operation Roaring Lion' on Saturday morning, aiming primarily at dismantling the Iranian terror regime and neutralizing an existential threat not only to Israel but to the entire globe, which encompasses their ballistic missile program, aspirations for nuclear weaponry, and proxy networks," Cohen stated.

He noted that in recent days, the United States and Israel have executed coordinated strikes across Iranian territories, targeting numerous critical installations, including ballistic missile sites, air force resources, and naval assets.

While not disclosing specifics about potential future military operations, Cohen cautioned that Iran has shown a propensity to heighten tensions throughout the region.

"The Iranian terrorist regime has made it abundantly clear that they are willing to threaten anyone nearby, and they have been consistent in this regard over the last few days," he conveyed during the IANS interview.

Regarding the latest military actions, Cohen mentioned that Israeli forces engaged in a significant aerial confrontation recently.

"We recently witnessed a historic event where an IDF fighter jet intercepted an Iranian Yak-130 fighter jet over Tehran, and we remain focused on targeting aerial defense systems within the Iranian terror regime, ballistic missile sites, and other related targets," he told IANS.

When queried about Iran's capability to inflict extensive damage on Israel and how Tel Aviv is preparing for such threats, Cohen emphasized that Israel has learned from past experiences not to underestimate its adversaries.

"After the October 7 attack, we have been clear that we cannot afford to underestimate our enemies. As we continue to focus on Iranian ballistic missile programs by targeting their launchers and strongholds, we acknowledge their capability to threaten Israeli citizens directly," he stated.

When asked if Israel anticipates a change in Iran's regime and whether this could lead to greater regional instability, Cohen reaffirmed that the current military campaign has a well-defined objective.

"The objective is straightforward. Through 'Operation Roaring Lion', we aim to eliminate the existential threat posed by the Iranian terrorist regime's military advancements. This includes the rapid development of their ballistic missile systems, efforts to disguise their nuclear weapons programs, and their attempts to position dangerous proxies near Israel's borders," he said.

"Our goal is to eradicate this existential threat so that Iran can no longer pose the same level of danger to the Israeli populace and the world at large," he added.

Cohen referenced Israel's prior military actions against Iranian capabilities, indicating that Israeli intelligence had previously identified Iran's nuclear program as a pressing concern.

"In last year's military operations, we identified a ticking time bomb situation," he remarked.

"We were determined to ensure that the Iranian terrorist regime does not acquire a nuclear weapon, and alongside the United States Armed Forces, we conducted numerous strikes against nuclear weapons programs," Cohen explained.

He stated that these earlier operations had significantly delayed Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"We ensured they were set back years and prevented them from achieving their nuclear goals in the immediate future. Since then, we've observed the Iranian terrorist regime continuously attempting to bolster and conceal their nuclear weapons programs, and we are working diligently to impede these efforts," he declared.

Cohen further noted that Israel's initial strike during the operation resulted in the elimination of several high-ranking Iranian military leaders, aimed solely at "eradicating the security threat posed by Iran."

"During the initial strike of the operation, we took out over 40 senior commanders, the most notable being Supreme Leader Khamenei, with a singular goal: to mitigate the security threat imposed by the Iranian regime on Israel and the world, and we will persist in any necessary operations to further that objective," Cohen emphasized.

When addressing speculation regarding potential political changes within Iran, Cohen clarified that Israel's military actions are strictly focused on security goals.

"The IDF's operation, in collaboration with the United States Armed Forces, is designed to eliminate an existential threat. We are targeting military installations. What unfolds internally in Iran in the future is their concern," he concluded.