The IDF completed a series of airstrikes against the Iranian regime's surface-to-surface missile array in recent hours, the military announced on Friday.
Among the sites hit was a location in western Iran where a unique missile launch system had been constructed inside shipping containers.
According to the IDF, Israeli Air Force fighter jets targeted and destroyed dozens of missile launchers, storage sites for surface-to-surface missiles, and additional military facilities.
Iran's response to be in the evening
The initial Iranian response to the strikes was expected to have been immediately, according to an Israeli reference scenario. Due to the assessment, alerts were sent at 3 a.m. on early Friday morning.
However, the assessment shifted following the success of the operation's initial strike. The combined impact of eliminating senior IRGC officials and destroying missile launchers has pushed back Iran's response by several hours.
Israeli officials now believe that Iran's response is expected to take place later on Friday evening. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to hold a security assessment meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Iran's Hamdan Air Force base had been attacked twice within the last hour.
Video footage from the Bushehr port shows thick, black smoke after Israel struck the port.
Israel attacked Iran overnight
Dozens of Israeli aircraft participated in an initial wave of strikes on dozens of military targets and Iranian nuclear sites early on Friday morning.
Warning sirens have been set off to get the public ready for potential Iranian counterattacks of ballistic missiles on Israel.
The IDF had not stopped attacking since the initial wave. Rather, as of 4:30 a.m., the IAF was still carrying out broad attacks, and there were no specific signs of stopping.
Yonah Jeremy Bob and Amichai Stein contributed to this article.