June 13, 2025 — Israel initiated a wide-scale military operation against Iran on Friday, striking nuclear facilities, missile production centers, and key military installations in what it described as a necessary action to halt Tehran’s alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons.
The campaign, dubbed Operation Rising Lion, began with intense airstrikes on multiple strategic sites, including the Natanz uranium enrichment facility. Explosions were reported across Iran, with Iranian media confirming civilian casualties and the deaths of several nuclear scientists. Among the prominent casualties was Major General Hossein Salami, commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, whose headquarters in Tehran was also hit.
The Israeli government, citing imminent threats, placed the military on high alert and deployed tens of thousands of troops. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the move a “historic campaign” to eliminate a serious threat to Israel’s survival.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the strikes as a “bloody crime” and vowed harsh retaliation, calling Israel’s actions a trigger for a bitter reckoning. Iran also accused the United States of being complicit in the attacks, a claim the US firmly denied. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States had no involvement and urged Iran not to target American interests.
Israel claimed the strikes were coordinated with intelligence-led sabotage operations by Mossad inside Iran, focusing on missile and air defense systems. In response, Iranian media confirmed the deaths of scientists Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, alongside civilian victims, including children.
The international community reacted with deep concern. Qatar and the UAE condemned the Israeli assault as a violation of sovereignty and a threat to regional stability. Leaders from Australia, New Zealand, and Japan called for restraint and warned against further escalation in an already volatile region.
Meanwhile, oil prices surged and global markets saw sharp declines amid fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East. Talks between the US and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program, previously scheduled in Oman, are now uncertain due to the rapidly deteriorating situation.
Although the US intelligence community had assessed that Iran had not resumed its nuclear weapons program, sources indicated awareness that Israel was preparing for such a strike. The US military is now on standby for potential evacuations and regional instability.
Israel’s defense ministry warned that retaliation from Iran in the form of missile and drone attacks was expected soon, as tensions in the region reach a critical juncture.
