On the morning of June 13, 2025, Israel launched a large-scale military operation named Operation Rising Lion, targeting key Iranian nuclear sites, military installations, and senior leadership. The strikes were aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, which Israel views as an existential threat.
Iranian state media reported that at least six prominent nuclear scientists were killed in the attacks, alongside top military figures including Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. Explosions were reported across Tehran and at Iran’s primary uranium enrichment site in Natanz, as well as other nuclear facilities in Khondab and Khorramabad.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the operation as a decisive and focused campaign to neutralize the Iranian nuclear threat, stating that Iran had amassed enough enriched uranium to produce up to 15 nuclear weapons within days. Israel’s Defense Minister declared a state of emergency, warning of possible missile and drone retaliation from Iran.
The strikes also hit residential areas in Tehran, causing civilian casualties including children. Iran’s Supreme Leader condemned the attack, vowing harsh retaliation. The United States stated it was not involved in the operation.
This unprecedented offensive marks the largest Israeli attack on Iran since the Iran-Iraq War and significantly escalates tensions in the Middle East, with the international community closely monitoring the situation.
