On Friday, Israel launched a large-scale military operation, dubbed “Operation Rising Lion,” targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and senior military commanders. The operation, described by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a decisive move to counter Iran’s nuclear ambitions, is expected to continue for days to prevent Tehran from developing an atomic weapon.
Extensive Strikes and Covert Operations
Israeli forces conducted widespread airstrikes on dozens of strategic targets, including Iran’s primary uranium enrichment facility at Natanz in central Iran. An Israeli military official revealed that Iran possesses enough material to produce 15 nuclear bombs in a matter of days, underscoring the urgency of the operation. Alongside the airstrikes, Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency executed covert sabotage missions aimed at crippling Iran’s ballistic missile sites and air defense systems, according to Axios, citing a senior Israeli official.
Iranian state media and local witnesses reported multiple explosions across the country, including at Natanz and the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Tehran. The strikes resulted in significant casualties, including the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian officials:
- Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, head of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, responsible for coordinating military operations.
- Major General Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the IRGC.
- Mohammad Tehranchi, President of Azad University and a prominent theoretical physicist.
- Fereydoon Abbasi, former head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization and a current Member of Parliament.
There are also unconfirmed reports that the IRGC’s intelligence chief may have been killed. Iranian state television reported civilian casualties, including several children, in a strike on a residential area in Tehran.
Iran’s Response and Regional Tensions
Iran’s Armed Forces spokesman, General Shekarchi, vowed a strong retaliation, stating, “Israel and the United States will receive a forceful slap,” and affirmed that counterstrikes are “definite, God willingly.” Iran is reportedly preparing missile and drone attacks in response, prompting Israel to declare a state of emergency and heighten its air defense readiness. Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport has been closed until further notice.
The United States, while acknowledging awareness of the Israeli operation, clarified that its military assets were not involved.
Netanyahu’s Strategic Warning
In a recorded video message, Prime Minister Netanyahu described the operation as a critical moment in Israel’s history, aimed at ensuring the nation’s survival. “We are at a decisive moment,” he said, emphasizing that Operation Rising Lion targets Iran’s nuclear scientists, ballistic missile programs, and key enrichment facilities like Natanz. He warned that the operation would persist “for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.”
As tensions escalate, the region braces for potential Iranian retaliation, with global attention focused on the unfolding conflict and its implications for regional stability.
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