On June 13, 2025, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a sweeping and preemptive military operation targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. Described as the “largest attack on Iran since the Iran–Iraq War,” this unprecedented move involved air strikes, drone operations, sabotage, and covert missions—effectively decapitating the Iranian military command and significantly disrupting its nuclear capabilities (en.wikipedia.org).
The attack's depth, coordination, and scale shook the Middle East and sent shockwaves around the world, prompting urgent reflections on deterrence, diplomatic failure, and the fragile balance of power in the region.
1. The Build-Up: Awareness and Warning Signs
In April and May 2025, intelligence reports revealed Iran accelerating uranium enrichment to 60% purity, bordering weapons-grade levels (en.wikipedia.org). Multiple warning signals followed:
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The IAEA board censured Iran for non-compliance—its first such rebuke in two decades (en.wikipedia.org).
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U.S. diplomatic withdrawals and reduced embassy activity in Iraq signaled heightened alert (en.wikipedia.org).
Even as Washington and Tehran prepared for a sixth round of nuclear talks in Oman, Israeli leaders—including Prime Minister Netanyahu—publicly warned that Iran was days or months away from developing a nuclear weapon (washingtonpost.com).
2. Launch: A Multi-Pronged Strike
In the early hours of June 13:
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Air Power: Over 200 fighter jets struck at least 100 targets, including Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility, military sites in Tehran, Khorramabad, and Tabriz, plus ballistic missile storage and command hubs (en.wikipedia.org, washingtonpost.com).
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Special Operations & Sabotage: Mossad commandos reportedly guided drone strikes against Iran’s air defense systems, having covertly embedded weaponized drones well in advance (thesun.ie). Precision weapons were deployed to neutralize radar and missile sites, clearing the way for the aerial assault .
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*Key Targets: High-profile officials—IRGC's Hussain Salami, Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Gholam Ali Rashid—along with top nuclear scientists like Fereydoon Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi—were confirmed dead (en.wikipedia.org).
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Disruption & Infrastructure Damage: Significant damage occurred at nuclear facilities, though the IAEA confirmed that no radiological or chemical contamination had occurred (apnews.com).
3. Objectives: Why ‘Rising Lion’?
Israel’s stated aim: Preemptively dismantle Iran’s ability to weaponize uranium and deter imminent nuclear Armament .
Strategic vision:
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Eliminate the IRGC leadership to degrade Iran’s military cohesion.
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Cripple nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, delaying any weapons-grade progression.
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Convey resolve, signaling the world that Israel deems a nuclear-armed Iran existentially intolerable.
Netanyahu underscored this as a matter of survival, invoking historical parallels to Hitler’s genocide and warning against an "Iranian nuclear Holocaust" if unchecked (washingtonpost.com).
4. Immediate Aftermath & Iranian Response
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Drone Retaliation: Iran fired over 100 drones toward Israel; most were intercepted by Israeli systems (time.com).
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Airspace Closures: Regions including Israel, Iran, Jordan, and Iraq shut down airspace amid fears of regional escalation (time.com).
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Civilian Disruptions: Iranian urban centers—particularly Tehran—witnessed sirens and restricted movement. Israel canceled Tel Aviv’s Pride parade, and its Foreign Ministry warned nationals abroad of terror threats .
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Emergency Declarations: Iran and Israel both declared national emergencies. Tehran closed schools and suspended commercial activity .
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Global Market Shock: Oil prices spiked nearly 14%, with U.S. futures tumbling, amid fears of supply disruptions if the Strait of Hormuz is threatened (marketwatch.com).
5. Global Reactions & Diplomatic Ripples
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United States: Washington distanced itself, declaring no involvement despite being informed by Israel. Secretary Marco Rubio emphasized the action as unilateral and reassured protection for U.S. troops .
Former President Donald Trump issued a stern warning via social media, urging Iran to make a deal "before it's too late," hinting at harsher strikes if diplomacy fails (washingtonpost.com). -
Europe & Allies: The EU, UK, Germany, and India called for restraint and de-escalation. Germany’s Chancellor Merz underscored Israel's right to defense while urging stability (apnews.com).
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Regional States:
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Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar condemned the strikes; Turkey’s ruling party spoke of “barbaric aggression” (apnews.com).
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Jordan aggressively enforced airspace closures and began intercepting drones/missiles .
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Australia expressed deep concern, warning of regional destabilization (theguardian.com).
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6. Regional and Geopolitical Implications
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Diplomatic Fallout: The attack derailed planned nuclear talks in Oman, likely pushing diplomatic solutions further away (apnews.com).
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Regional Escalation: Analysts warn of proxy reprisals, missile barrages, and naval taunting—especially if the Strait of Hormuz is targeted .
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Global Markets: Growing instability has sparked inflation fears tied to volatile oil markets .
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Strategic Fragmentation: Israel’s move tests the coherence of Western alliances, splitting opinion on military vs. diplomatic approaches (wsj.com).
7. What’s Next? Watchpoints
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Iranian Retaliation: Tehran vow “harsh punishment”—potential missile strikes, regional militia activation, or cyber previews (time.com).
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Nuclear Talks: Future negotiations may stall entirely as trust erodes (marketwatch.com).
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Proxy Wars: Risk of conflict spilling into Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen grows as Iran leans into asymmetric tactics .
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U.S.-Israel Dynamics: Though cooperative, key U.S. figures have expressed reservation—future American support may hinge on regional risk tolerance .
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Global Security & Civilians: Heightened terror threats necessitate increased vigilance and emergency protocols around the world .
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