Israel has launched a significant military operation against Iran’s nuclear program and military targets, marking a major escalation in the long-standing tensions between the two countries. The attack, dubbed “Operation Rising Lion,” involved dozens of Israeli airstrikes across Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, military compounds, and long-range missile capabilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the strikes, stating that Israel aimed to roll back the Iranian threat to its survival.
The operation has resulted in significant damage and casualties, including the reported death of Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, and Fereydoon Abbasi, the former head of the Atomic Energy Organisation. Iranian state media reported explosions in Tehran and near the Natanz nuclear facility, with videos showing apartment buildings on fire and civilians, including children, among the casualties.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) described the strikes as a “preemptive, precise, combined offensive” aimed at disrupting Iran’s strategic threat to Israel. The IDF chief of staff emphasized that Israel was engaged in a “historic battle to prevent an existential threat” and warned that the operation would continue for as many days as necessary.
The US has distanced itself from the Israeli strikes, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating that the US was “not involved” in the operation. The attack has sparked fears of a broader regional war, with Iran vowing retaliation and Israel declaring a state of emergency in anticipation of potential counterattacks.
