At an emotional graduation ceremony for the Israeli Air Force’s 190th flight course on Thursday, senior military leaders celebrated the new class of pilots and navigators and the recent success of “Operation Rising Lion.”
Officials said that the deep, coordinated strike on Iranian targets marked a turning point in Israel’s ongoing war with its regional enemies.
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir described the operation as “a historic achievement, not merely a military success.”
Speaking to the 37 graduates, military families and government officials at the ceremony held at the Israeli Air Force Museum at Hatzerim Airbase near Beersheva, Zamir emphasized that the mission represented the full spectrum of the Israeli spirit: courage, skill, faith in justice, and relentless preparation.
“An entire nation looked to the skies,” he said, “not only to see the might of our planes, but to believe again in itself.”
The operation, conducted three weeks earlier, struck deep into Iranian territory.
Zamir noted that the mission was built not on the day of takeoff, but in long nights of planning sessions where hard questions were asked: “Is it possible? Are we ready?”
The chief of staff outlined four pillars of success: Meticulous planning, a deep and rational belief in the mission, seamless inter-agency coordination and, above all, the people—from pilots and drone operators to intelligence analysts and technical crews.
“They are the soul of the aircraft,” he said of the ground crews. “They ensure that the planes take off and return safely.”
The general praised the graduates for their determination in completing the intense training under wartime conditions.
“Courage,” he said, “is not the absence of fear, but the ability to act with excellence despite it.”
Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar echoed that message.
Addressing the new aircrew, he told them: “Your decision to become aerial combatants is not taken for granted. It is deeply appreciated.”
Bar described “Operation Rising Lion” as a model of military orchestration, involving intelligence units, cyber operators, logistics and special forces—all working as one.
He said the strikes turned Iran from an immediate threat into a distant one, degrading much of its aerial and missile capabilities.
“We bridged an 1,800-kilometer challenge and carried out our duty with precision,” Bar said. “This is the enemy that seeks Israel’s destruction. That aim will never be achieved.”
He acknowledged the continuing war effort across multiple fronts, especially in Gaza, where Israeli forces are still engaged in ground operations under the “Gideon’s Chariots” campaign.
Zamir pledged that the military would not rest until its goals—the return of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas—are met.
Referencing the attack earlier that day in Gush Etzion, in which terrorists killed a civilian, Zamir vowed: “We will pursue our enemies in every arena.”
Both Zamir and Bar recognized the critical role of the graduates’ families. “If I could give a second set of wings,” Bar said, “I would give them to you.”
Bar concluded with a reference to a note found in a pilot’s pocket during the Iran strikes. It quoted lyrics from a song inspired by the 1976 Entebbe rescue mission:
“In the middle of the night, they rose and struck at the edge of the world, like fiery sons they flew far, to restore human dignity.”
As the 643rd day of Israel’s war against Hamas drew to a close, Bar reminded the audience that “this is the time” to bring the hostages home.
“Spread your wings,” he told the graduates, “from defending our skies to missions thousands of kilometers away. The security of our country is in your hands.”
