On June 13, 2025, in a major escalation of regional hostilities, the Israeli Air Force launched “Operation Rising Lion,” a widescale air campaign against Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. The assault targeted Iran’s uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, several ballistic missile factories, and key command centres in Tehran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the operation as essential for preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and ensuring Israel’s very existence.
Timeline of Events
- 12:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. (Local, 13 June): Israeli fighter jets and stand-off missiles struck approximately 100 facilities across Iran, including Natanz, the Revolutionary Guards’ headquarters in Tehran, and multiple missile production sites.
- Shortly after the first wave, Iran’s Air Defence Forces and civilian radar installations were hit, disrupting early-warning systems. Black smoke was observed over Natanz, though the extent of damage to centrifuges remains under assessment.
- 2:30 a.m.: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that its Commander-in-Chief, Major General Hossein Salami, had been killed in the strikes; Iranian state media confirmed additional high-level casualties.
- 3:00 a.m.: Iran launched over 100 drones toward Israel in apparent retaliation; Israeli air defences intercepted most of the unmanned aerial vehicles, with minimal reported damage inside Israel.
- 4:00 a.m.: Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv closed, and Israel declared a national emergency, mobilising thousands of reservists and raising alert levels on all borders.
- Strikes on Natanz and Other Strategic Sites
Natanz, Iran’s primary uranium enrichment complex, was among the principal targets. According to an Israeli military official, the facility was struck to “cripple Iran’s ability to produce weapons-grade material,” citing U.S. intelligence assessments that Iran could assemble a nuclear device within days if unchecked. In Tehran, the IRGC headquarters and nearby military research centres were also bombed, significantly damaging command-and-control infrastructure.
Top Iranian War Generals Reported Killed
Iranian state media and eyewitness accounts confirm several senior military figures perished in the strikes:
- Major General Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
- Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces.
- Brigadier General Fereydoon Abbasi, former Head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran and IRGC scientist.
- Brigadier General Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, a nuclear physicist and research director.
Civilian Impact and Other Casualties
Beyond military targets, residential areas north of Tehran sustained collateral damage. Iranian officials reported civilian deaths, including children, in apartment blocks struck during the initial wave of attacks. Rescue teams are combing through rubble amid concerns over unexploded ordnance and potential radiation leaks from Natanz’s industrial sections.
Israel’s Stated Objective
Prime Minister Netanyahu, in a recorded address, labelled the operation “a decades-long endeavour” to forestall Iran’s progression toward a deliverable nuclear arsenal. He warned that it would continue “for as many days as it takes” to neutralise the threat. Defence Minister Israel Katz added that Israel had acted on “fresh intelligence” indicating Iran was “approaching the point of no return” in weapons development..
Iranian and Regional Response
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the strikes as “sheer aggression,” vowing “a bitter fate for the perpetrators” and calling for a unified national response. Iran’s foreign ministry summoned ambassadors from allied countries to forge a “collective stance.” In Amman, Jordan closed its airspace, and Iraq declared a heightened alert, fearing spillover of hostilities.
International Reaction
The United States officially distanced itself, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating, “The U.S. was not involved,” while maintaining a readiness to protect American personnel in the region. The European Union urged restraint and called for an immediate return to diplomatic talks, warning that further military escalation could imperil global oil supplies and economic stability.
Potential Implications
Analysts warn that “Operation Rising Lion” risks igniting a broader Middle Eastern conflagration. With Iran’s proxies in Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen on standby, the prospect of simultaneous multi-front assaults could draw in Hezbollah, the Houthis, and others. Additionally, disrupted negotiations in Oman between U.S. and Iranian envoys may collapse, undermining non-proliferation frameworks and prompting a new arms race.
As night falls over the region, both Tehran and Jerusalem remain on high alert for the next move. The international community watches closely, hoping the crisis does not spiral into all-out war.
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