Jerusalem/Tehran | June 13, 2025: In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, Israel launched a high-profile military strike against key nuclear and military installations inside Iran late Thursday night, in what is being called Operation Rising Lion. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the operation targeted strategic facilities critical to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, claiming it was a necessary act of self-defense.
According to reports from Iranian and international media, the precision strikes led to the deaths of several top Iranian military officials, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s Chief of Staff, and Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Also among the casualties is a prominent unnamed nuclear scientist said to be instrumental in Iran’s weapons program.
Israel Responds to Imminent Threat, Says Iran Was Close to Nuclear Breakout
Moments ago, Israel launched Operation “Rising Lion”, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival.
This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.
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Statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: pic.twitter.com/XgUTy90g1S
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) June 13, 2025
The strike comes amid growing fears in Israel that Iran was on the verge of developing a nuclear bomb. Israeli intelligence suggested that Iran had accumulated enough enriched uranium to manufacture up to 15 nuclear weapons in a matter of days.
“We will not allow Iran to erase Israel from the map,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a televised address following the operation. “This was a preemptive measure. Iran was preparing for a massive strike against us. Our mission is not yet over, and further actions will be taken until our national security is guaranteed.”
The operation was launched under the codename “Rising Lion,” and included coordinated airstrikes and cyberattacks targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, including the city of Natanz near Isfahan, a site known for housing large uranium stockpiles. Explosions were heard across Natanz, confirming a direct hit on its critical nuclear infrastructure.
Israel’s Military Warns Enemies: “We’re Fully Prepared on All Fronts”
🧵THREAD: Israel Launches Operation ‘Rising Lion’ – A Strategic Strike on Iran’s Nuclear Infrastructure | Analysis
Iran | #Tehran | Nuclear | Operation Rising Lion | Tel Aviv | #Geopolitics | Middle East | #OperationRisingLion pic.twitter.com/YvvGhVWJDL
— Rudra himanshu mishra (@Rudrahimanshum1) June 13, 2025
Following the strike, Israel’s Chief of the General Staff issued a strong warning to regional adversaries:
“We are fully prepared on all borders. Any attempt to challenge our sovereignty will be met with overwhelming force. Our enemies will pay a heavy price.”
Tensions in the region have been rising for weeks, with Iran issuing repeated threats in response to Israeli actions in Gaza and Syria. Israeli officials claim Thursday night’s operation was carefully planned in anticipation of a broader Iranian offensive.
Iran’s Reaction and Domestic Fallout
#BREAKING 🔥🚨#OperationRisingLion
🇮🇱🇮🇷
The oil refinery in Tabriz, Iran has been destroyed.Israel is decapitating the leaders, the IRGC’s economy, and the nuclear sites.
A fourth wave of airstrikes has hit missile and drone production facilities in Tabriz and Kermanshah.… pic.twitter.com/u5MVuojacZ
— Frankie™️🦅 (@B7frankH) June 13, 2025
While Iran’s government has yet to release an official statement, Iranian state media acknowledged the deaths of Bagheri and Salami, calling the attacks “acts of aggression” and promising “severe retaliation.” Emergency meetings were reportedly held in Tehran in the early hours of Friday, as the Iranian leadership assessed the damage and began planning its next steps.
Eyewitnesses in Natanz described scenes of panic as multiple explosions lit up the night sky. Videos circulating online appear to show plumes of smoke rising from what are believed to be nuclear storage sites.
U.S. Distances Itself from the Attack
In Washington, the Biden administration was quick to clarify that the U.S. had no involvement in the Israeli strikes. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a press briefing:
“Tonight, Israel carried out a unilateral strike against Iran. The United States was not involved in this action. Our priority remains the safety of American forces deployed in the region.”
Rubio added that while the U.S. was informed by Israel after the operation began, it neither advised nor participated in the planning or execution of the strike.
“Israel made clear to us that they deemed this action necessary for their own defense. President Trump has instructed the Pentagon to take all necessary precautions to ensure the protection of our troops.”
Regional Fallout and Global Concerns
Global powers are bracing for the fallout of this escalation. The United Nations Security Council has scheduled an emergency session, while oil prices have already surged amid fears of a broader conflict in the Gulf. Countries like Russia, China, and Turkey have expressed concern, urging restraint from both sides.
Defense analysts warn that this could mark the beginning of a prolonged confrontation, not just between Israel and Iran, but potentially drawing in proxies and allies across the region. Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and pro-Iranian militias in Iraq could all respond, further inflaming the situation.
What Happens Next?
As of now, Israel remains on high alert, with air defense systems activated nationwide and emergency protocols enforced in major cities. Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated in his closing remarks:
“This operation was not the end, but the beginning of a necessary campaign. We will act again if needed, without hesitation.”
The world now watches anxiously as two of the Middle East’s most powerful adversaries teeter on the brink of war. Whether this will spiral into a wider regional conflict or remain a calculated display of deterrence remains to be seen.
