Israel has executed a series of unprecedented airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, including the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, in what Israeli officials described as a preemptive operation to thwart Tehran’s alleged nuclear weapons program.
The attack, codenamed “Rising Lion,” occured on Friday, 13 June, 2025 and involved over 200 Israeli fighter jets and covert Mossad operations, striking more than 100 targets across Iran, including missile factories, air defenses, and key military personnel.
The strikes killed senior Iranian commanders, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, and General Hossein Salami, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), alongside several nuclear scientists, according to Iranian state media and Israeli military statements.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the assault, citing intelligence that Iran had enriched enough uranium for potentially nine nuclear bombs and was advancing toward weaponisation.
“We struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear program to protect Israel’s survival,” Netanyahu said in a televised address, framing the operation as a response to an existential threat.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed significant damage to Natanz, a key uranium enrichment site 140 miles south of Tehran, though the heavily fortified Fordow facility, buried deep underground, was not targeted.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported no radiation leaks at Natanz but condemned the attack, with Director General Rafael Grossi stating, “Nuclear facilities must never be attacked due to serious safety and security implications.”
Iran denounced the strikes as a “declaration of war,” with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowing “severe punishment.” Iran’s foreign ministry accused the U.S., Israel’s primary ally, of complicity, despite U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s assertion that the operation was unilateral.
Iran launched approximately 100 drones toward Israel in retaliation, most of which were intercepted by Israeli defenses. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the attack a violation of international law, warning of a “decisive” response.
The strikes come amid stalled U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, with President Donald Trump urging Tehran to “make a deal” to avoid further escalation. Trump, who previously withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord, described the Israeli operation as “excellent” but warned of “more brutal” attacks if Iran refused negotiations.
The U.S. had reportedly cautioned Israel against striking nuclear sites to avoid derailing diplomacy, highlighting tensions between Washington and Jerusalem.
International reactions were swift. European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, called for de-escalation, labelling the situation “deeply alarming.”
Saudi Arabia and Turkey condemned the strikes, while Iraq filed a UN complaint over Israeli violations of its airspace. Analysts warn that the attack could push Iran to accelerate its nuclear program underground, potentially withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, as seen in historical responses to Israeli strikes on Iraq’s Osirak reactor in 1981.
The operation risks igniting a broader regional conflict, with global markets bracing for instability as oil prices climbed.
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