In a significant escalation of hostilities, Israel conducted a large-scale military operation against Iran, targeting critical components of its nuclear program and military leadership. The attack, dubbed “Rising Lion,” set loose an estimated 200 Israeli fighter jets. They targeted over 100 places, including the important uranium enrichment plant at Natanz and multiple missile facilities across Iran. Indeed, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that this operation is “just the beginning.” He touted their dedication and devotion to the destruction of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
The attack exterminated six nuclear scientists. One of them was Fereydoun Abbasi, former head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization. It claimed the lives of some of Iran’s most senior military officials. General Hossein Salami, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was reportedly among the dead. A fourth top commander, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the army chief of staff, died in the accident. Most reports label the cyberattack as an effort to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. It simultaneously sought to communicate to Iranian leaders that their security was not on the verge of collapse.
Israeli officials stressed the operation’s tactical intent. To prevent Iranian generals and scientists from relocating to hardened facilities. “We struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme. We struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear weaponisation programme,” Netanyahu stated. He harped on the fact that the operation was aimed at the primary enrichment center in Natanz. Moreover, it focused on individuals directly responsible for creating Iran’s nuclear bomb.
The United States had a major hand in giving Israel the greenlight for this operation. As one unnamed US official put it, “We had a very specific US green light,” showing just how closely the two countries had worked on this together. Former President Donald Trump celebrated the attack, calling it “very, very excellent… They took a whacking, very much a whacking. And there’s more to come. A lot more.
While U.S.-Iran tensions have sharply increased, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned not to “underestimate the enemy.” In a recorded message, he warned, “Don’t think that they hit and it’s over. No. They started the work and started the war.” His comments are emblematic of widespread concerns among Iranians about America’s promise of retaliation and advanced military attack to come.
First-hand reports from people who live close to the attack area paint a terrifying picture filled with booming explosions and palpable fear. One witness, Golnar, recounted her experience: “I woke up to the first explosion and rushed to the windows to check… The windows were shaking and people in the building started screaming.” Another witness added, “Everything happened so quickly… There’s debris all over the explosion site and surrounding streets.”
The Israeli airstrikes targeted nuclear infrastructure. These threats included harm from Iran’s growing and advancing ballistic missile program. An IDF officer noted, “That’s the goal, to remove the threat and to make sure they don’t have a nuclear bomb.” This comprehensive strategy demonstrates Israel’s determination to secure the homeland despite increasing violence and unrest in today’s volatile Middle East.
The attack has drawn emotional responses from various opposing sides in Iran. Many are even calling for a strong response—militarily, politically, and economically—specifically against Israel. Ahmad Moadi, an Iranian citizen, expressed his frustration: “How much longer are we going to live in fear? As an Iranian, I believe there must be an overwhelming response, a scathing response.”
As international observers watch this situation closely, it is unclear how Iran will react to such an unprecedented assault. The risk of even greater military escalation hangs over us all as both countries prepare for the fallout from this strike.