In a stunning show of remembrance, resolve, and pride, the United States Air Force marked the one-year anniversary of Iran’s massive April 2024 missile and drone assault on Israel by releasing never-before-seen interviews with the American fighter pilots who soared into harm’s way to defend the Jewish state.

It was a night unlike any in modern military history.

On that fateful evening in April 2024, the Islamic Republic of Iran unleashed a ferocious barrage of over 300 attack drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles at Israel, in what was later described as the largest direct aerial assault ever attempted against a sovereign nation. The skies above the Middle East lit up as Iranian munitions crossed borders and airspaces, forcing allied forces to scramble in real-time.

In a gripping post on Sunday, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin commemorated the anniversary by highlighting the heroism of American airmen who played a pivotal role in thwarting the Iranian onslaught.

“One year ago today, Iran launched 300 missiles and drones at Israel,” Gen. Allvin wrote on X. “Our aviators risked everything to stop it. These heroes will never know how many innocent lives they saved that night. Hear the story from those who lived it. Damn proud of these patriots!” 

One year ago today, Iran launched 300 missiles and drones at Israel. Our aviators risked everything to stop it. These heroes will never know how many innocent lives they saved that night. Hear the story from those who lived it. Damn proud of these patriots! pic.twitter.com/ekiXHhRmAS

— General David Allvin (@OfficialCSAF) April 13, 2025

Voices from the Cockpit: Recounting the Chaos and Courage

The Air Force’s video testimony pulls viewers into the cockpit, with raw, unfiltered accounts of that perilous night.

“The radar just lit up,” recalled one pilot, vividly remembering the overwhelming moment when the scale of the attack became apparent.
“At that point, we were in an hour-long fight, just trying to destroy whatever we could.”

Another pilot, describing the sudden shift from routine to chaos, said:

“I got the green light to take off—just another night mission, or so I thought.”

A third airman, still processing the intensity of the engagement, said:

“We were in the air for hours, no clear picture, total confusion… At one point, I thought maybe it was already over. I was wrong.”

In one of the most harrowing and inspiring moments, a young pilot recounted making a split-second decision as he led his formation:

“I told myself, ‘I’ll go first. I’m the least experienced—but someone has to do it.’ I waited for someone to stop me. No one did. So I went.”

Another pilot described the eerie beauty of the battle:

“The radar lights kept flashing—another lock, another drone. The sky was chaos. The ground below us was burning, lit up by the streaks of intercepted threats.”

Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Kevin Murphy detailed the intensity of the mission:

“It took us just 45 minutes to fire every missile we had on board. We were running on instinct—and then on empty. We had to head back.”

A Victory Against Impossible Odds

Despite the overwhelming scale of the attack, the coordinated response between U.S., Israeli, Jordanian, British, and French forces was nothing short of historic. In total:

• Over 80 Iranian munitions were destroyed by American aircraft alone, many of which were headed directly toward Israeli population centers.
• Israeli air defense systems, including the Arrow and David’s Sling, intercepted approximately 90% of ballistic missiles.
• The final tally: 99% of all incoming threats were neutralized before they could cause harm.

Only six weapons made impact. Not a single civilian life was lost.

“Three hundred weapons were fired at a nation, and only six hit. Nobody died. That’s what defending our allies looks like,” one pilot reflected solemnly.
“We were part of something historic. Something that mattered.”

A Strategic Signal to Tehran

The decision to release this video exactly one year after Iran’s brazen attack is more than a tribute—it’s a declaration.

At a time when tensions remain high and Iran continues its destabilizing activities across the region, the message is unmistakable: The United States stands firmly with Israel. And should the skies darken again, the world now knows who will rise to meet the challenge.