The operation, codenamed Operation Rising Lion, began in the early hours of Friday and is being described by Israeli officials as a decisive campaign to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Beginning around 3 a.m. local time, dozens of Israeli warplanes struck multiple targets across Iran, triggering emergency protocols in both nations. Explosions were reported in several major cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, and Arak. Among the primary targets were nuclear enrichment facilities, air defense systems, missile development sites, and IRGC command centers.
Iranian state media confirmed that air defenses were activated and all flights from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport were suspended. Civilian aircraft were instructed to vacate Iranian airspace, as widespread fires and infrastructure damage were reported in the aftermath of the strikes. Notably, the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was said to be among the critical targets hit.
Several high-ranking Iranian military leaders were killed in the attack, including Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri and IRGC commander-in-chief Hossein Salami. Bagheri was considered the architect of Iran’s ballistic missile program, while Salami played a key role in orchestrating both domestic crackdowns and regional military operations. Their deaths mark a significant blow to Iran’s military leadership.
Other senior casualties reportedly include Maj. Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, commander of the strategic Khatam al-Anbiya military base, as well as two prominent nuclear scientists—Dr. Fereydoon Abbasi, a former head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, and physicist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi.
In a nationally televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the operation as a necessary act of preemptive self-defense.
“Our objective is to hit Iran’s nuclear facilities and military capabilities until we remove the threat to us,” Netanyahu said. “Iran is preparing to produce tens of thousands of ballistic missiles that could kill millions—even without nuclear warheads. But imagine if any of them carried nuclear weapons.”
Citing intelligence assessments, Netanyahu warned that Iran was only months away from developing nuclear weapons. “Iran has enriched enough uranium for nine nuclear bombs and is taking concrete steps toward full weaponization,” he said. “These steps bring Iran dangerously close to the point of no return.”
He concluded with a stark warning:
“We cannot leave these threats to the next generation. Because if we don’t act now, there may not be a next generation. ‘Never Again’ is now.”
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the scope and intent of the operation, stating it was aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities and eliminating the leadership and infrastructure supporting them.
IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin emphasized Israel’s defensive posture:
“Today, Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon. The State of Israel has the obligation to act in defense of its citizens and will continue to do so wherever necessary, as we have always done.”
As the region braces for potential retaliation, the strikes mark a turning point in the long-simmering conflict between Israel and Iran—bringing fears of a broader confrontation into sharp focus.
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