The Israeli pilots who carried out the initial Saturday morning strike describe the intense preparation behind the scenes, the precision required during the operation, and the moment when the mission was complete.

They say that during the flight, there is no time to think about the magnitude of what’s happening. Only on the way back does the realization begin to sink in.

The opening strike marked the beginning of Israel’s air campaign that has since achieved air superiority over Tehran through operations that pilots describe as beyond anything they had imagined.