Operation Rising Lion: Israel Strikes Iran’s Nuclear and Military Sites

KKN Gurugram Desk | On Friday, June 13, 2025, Israel launched a large-scale military operation named “Operation Rising Lion”, targeting key Iranian nuclear installations, missile bases, and military facilities via air strikes and covert sabotage. The attack resulted in the deaths of senior Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. In response, Iran unleashed hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones toward Israel, marking a dangerous escalation in the Iran–Israel conflict.

 What Is Operation Rising Lion?

• Objective: Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) aimed to degrade Iran’s nuclear capabilities, destroy missile infrastructure, and eliminate top military leaders perceived as threats .

• Coordination: The attack combined airstrikes by over 200 aircraft, Mossad-led covert sabotage of air defenses, and pre-positioned drones inside Iran .

• Scale: Roughly 100–120 sites were attacked, including the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, military bases in Tabriz and Kermanshah, and high-value targets near Tehran .

 Targeted Facilities and Strategic Damage

• The Natanz Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant—housing advanced centrifuges—was heavily damaged, though underground cascade halls remained intact.

• Critical sites in Isfahan, Arak, and missile launch sites in Piranshahr, Kermanshah, and Tabriz were struck.

• Mossad disrupted radar and air-defense nodes, enabling a successful air campaign.

• Iranian state media confirmed the deaths of multiple senior IRGC commanders and nuclear scientists, including General Hossein Salami, General Mohammad Bagheri, Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani, and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi .

 Scale of Casualties and Damage

• Iranian media report more than 224 deaths, including civilians and scientists, with over 1,200 people injured

• Non-government sources estimate at least 78 fatalities and hundreds injured

• Massive structural damage was confirmed via satellite imagery at nuclear and missile installations .

 Iran’s Retaliation: Missiles, Drones, and Hostage Diplomacy

• In rapid response, Iran launched over 100 ballistic missiles and drones targeting regions in Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva, Bat Yam, Rehovot, and Jerusalem.

• Missile sirens and air-defense alerts dominated morning skies in Israel as interceptors shot down many incoming threats .

• The strikes caused significant damage in Petah Tikva, including to a residential building, and left at least 10 civilians dead and 100+ injured .

• Iran’s UN ambassador reported over 78 deaths and 320 injuries from the Israeli attacks .

 Israel’s ilitary Strength vs Iran’s Manpower

Comparative military figures according to Global Firepower 2025:

• Defense Budget: Israel – $30.5 billion; Iran – $15.45 billion

• Active Personnel: Israel – 170,000 (+465,000 reserves); Iran – 610,000 (+350,000 reserves)

• Aircraft: Israel – 611; Iran – 551

• Armored Vehicles: Israel – 35,985; Iran – 65,825

Global and U.S. Involvement

• Outcome debate: Israeli officials insist the goal was threat neutralization, not regime change—but some, including PM Netanyahu, hinted at encouraging Iranian opposition.

• U.S. involvement: While White House denied military backing, media reports suggest limited tacit support. Former President Donald Trump reportedly opposed targeting Ayatollah Khamenei.

• International warnings: Nations including Russia, China, UK, and EU have urged restraint, warning of regional destabilization .

 Risk of Uncontrolled Escalation

• The conflict has reignited fears of a full-scale Middle East war.

• Military analysts highlight the psychological and physical impact of attacks being launched from Iranian soil—heightening the conflict’s visibility .

• Globally, oil prices have surged over 7–11%, with flight routes above the region disrupted.

 Statements from Leaders

• Prime Minister Netanyahu warned Iran of a “very heavy price” for targeting civilians, visiting impacted areas near Tel Aviv and pledging more strikes .

• Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei denounced the attack as a “crime” and vowed continued resistance .

• Defense Minister Katz declared emergency readiness as missile retaliation peaked .

What’s Next: Crisis or Containment?

1. Israel to Continue Strikes?
   PM Netanyahu stated Operation Rising Lion will run “as many days as it takes” to eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat.

2. Iran’s Next Wave
   Believing they face existential threat, Iran has vowed complete retaliation and could escalate missile strikes further.

3. Risk of Wider War
   Regional powers and the U.S. now actively monitoring shifts from proxy to direct conflict.

4. Diplomatic Pressure Mounts
   The UN Security Council will likely debate a ceasefire or sanctions, but both nations continue military buildup .

Operation Rising Lion marks one of the most significant preemptive strikes by Israel since the Iran–Iraq War, with far-reaching implications:

• Israel aims to cripple Iran’s nuclear and strategic capabilities.

• Iran’s missile response signals a potential one-front war.

• Global concerns range from oil disruptions and military escalation to nuclear security and humanitarian fallout.

As Israel continues aerial assaults and Iran retaliates, the world watches, hoping for a diplomatic breakthrough—before war spills beyond the Middle East.