Large-scale strikes carried out Saturday by U.S. and Israeli forces — referred to by American officials as “Operation Epic Fury” — had been under development for several months, according to Israeli officials.

In its first public statement following the operation, the Israel Defense Forces said the assault targeted “dozens of military objectives” inside Iran.

The statement emphasized what it described as extensive coordination between Israeli and U.S. forces in the months preceding the attack. Israeli officials said the planning involved close collaboration between the IDF and the U.S. Army to ensure synchronized execution of the strikes.

“In the months leading up to the attack, close joint planning was carried out between the IDF and the U.S. Army, which enabled the broad attack to be carried out with maximum synchronization and coordination between the armies,” the IDF said.

As of Saturday, U.S. officials had not publicly detailed the timeline of the planning process or confirmed how long preparations had been underway.

The IDF statement framed the strikes as a response to ongoing security threats from Tehran.

“The Iranian regime has not abandoned its plan to destroy Israel,” the statement said. It added that Israeli intelligence had determined Iran continued efforts to strengthen and conceal elements of its nuclear program, as well as resume missile production activities.

The operation marks a significant escalation in tensions between Israel and Iran, underscoring deepening military cooperation between Jerusalem and Washington.