Israel said it targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and senior military figures on 13 June 2025.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation would continue until the threat was removed.
Israeli Military Strikes Target Nuclear Programme
In a recorded message, Netanyahu described the moment as decisive in Israel’s history. He announced the launch of Operation Rising Lion, which targeted Iranian scientists allegedly working on nuclear weapons, the ballistic missile programme, and the uranium enrichment facility at Natanz.
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Iranian media and witnesses reported explosions at the Natanz facility. A resident of the city said multiple blasts were heard near the site. State television reported explosions in Tehran and confirmed that the country’s air defence systems were fully activated.
Iranian state media said Hossein Salami, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, had been killed. It also reported that the Guards’ headquarters in Tehran was struck. A separate strike on a residential area in the capital reportedly killed several children.
An Israeli military spokesperson said dozens of nuclear and military sites across Iran were targeted. The official claimed Iran had enough enriched material to produce up to 15 nuclear bombs within days.
Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad reportedly carried out covert sabotage missions alongside large-scale air strikes. These efforts were aimed at weakening Iran’s missile infrastructure and air defence systems, according to a senior Israeli source cited by Axios.
United States Keeps Distance as Israel Prepares for Retaliation
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel acted unilaterally because it believes the operation was necessary for self-defence. He confirmed the United States was not involved and warned Iran against attacking American personnel or military assets.
Rubio said the US priority was to protect its forces in the region. Two American officials, speaking anonymously, said Israel had launched its strikes without US assistance or coordination.
President Donald Trump convened a National Security Council meeting on the morning of 13 June. A day earlier, Trump said an Israeli strike on Iran was possible but reiterated his hope for a peaceful outcome.
Israel declared a state of emergency in anticipation of missile and drone retaliation. Defence Minister Israel Katz said retaliatory strikes against Israeli cities and civilians were expected soon after the preemptive operation.
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Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said tens of thousands of troops had been mobilised and positioned along all borders. He described the operation as a historic campaign intended to eliminate an existential threat.
Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv was closed indefinitely. Israel’s air defence units were placed on high alert in preparation for potential Iranian attacks.
An Iranian security official told Reuters that Iran was preparing a harsh response. “The response to the Israeli attack will be harsh and decisive,” the official said, adding that details of Iran’s retaliation “are being discussed at the highest levels.”
The United States and Iran were due to begin a sixth round of talks on Tehran’s uranium enrichment programme in Oman on 15 June. Officials from both countries and Omani mediators said the talks appeared to have stalled.
A US defence official said the military was preparing for multiple scenarios, including the possible evacuation of American civilians from the region. Global markets reacted sharply, with oil prices rising and investors shifting funds to safe-haven assets.
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