JERUSALEM, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military said on Thursday it has destroyed more than 300 ballistic missile launchers and air defense systems in western and central Iran since fighting began last weekend.
The military released footage of the strikes, saying the attacks aimed to "further expand aerial superiority over Iran and minimize as much as possible the scale of launches toward the State of Israel."
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged on Thursday to maintain close military coordination following the launch of their joint operation against Iran, which has triggered a wider regional conflict and killed hundreds.
In an overnight phone call, the two defense chiefs discussed next steps in their campaign against Tehran, according to a statement from Katz's office.
"The two agreed to continue their close coordination and remain in continuous contact," the statement said.
Hegseth praised the effectiveness of bilateral defense against Iranian missile threats, telling Katz: "Keep going to the end -- we are with you," according to the Israeli statement.
The exchange followed massive joint strikes launched by Israel and the United States on Saturday, which prompted retaliatory Iranian missile and drone attacks against Israeli territory and U.S. assets in the Middle East. Hezbollah also fired rockets at Israel, which Israel responded with airstrikes in Beirut and other areas and ground incursions into Lebanon.
On Thursday, the Israeli army issued an unprecedented order for residents in Beirut's southern suburbs to evacuate immediately, marking the first full evacuation of the area. Soon after, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reportedly warned that the area will face devastation similar to Gaza.
The recent hostilities have killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, according to Iranian media, while Lebanon's Health Ministry reported at least 102 deaths. In Israel, rescue services said 10 people were killed by Iranian missile fire.
Meanwhile, British Ambassador to Bahrain Alastair Long said on Thursday that Royal Air Force aircraft are conducting sorties across the region to intercept airborne threats, Bahrain's Al Ayam newspaper reported.
He said one sortie has shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle between Qatar and Bahrain as part of Britain's defensive support for its allies.
Long also said Britain has allowed the United States to use some of its military bases in the region under specific conditions limited to defensive operations.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who told parliament on Monday his government "does not believe in regime change from the skies," initially refused any role in Washington's conflict with Iran, drawing criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Starmer later backed down and agreed to a U.S. request to use two British military bases for what he described as a "specific and limited defensive purpose." ■
