Tensions between Iran and Israel have reached a dangerous new high following a surprise and large-scale air assault by Israel on Friday morning. The operation, codenamed “Operation Rising Lion,” has sent shockwaves through the international community.
According to Israeli sources, the air campaign was carried out in five separate waves, targeting key locations including the Natanz nuclear facility, missile production sites, and residences of top Iranian military officials. Israeli officials stated the strikes were part of a preemptive strategy aimed at inflicting “irreversible damage” on Iran’s nuclear program.
Iranian state media has confirmed the deaths of several high-ranking figures in the attacks, including:
- General Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC),
- Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces,
- and two senior nuclear scientists, whose identities were not disclosed.
Multiple explosions, fires, and scenes of widespread destruction were reported across the capital Tehran and other major cities.
In response, Iran’s Ministry of Defense claimed to have launched over 100 drones toward Israel as part of a counterattack. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that its Iron Dome air defense system intercepted and destroyed most of the drones before they could reach Israeli territory.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed a “painful and historic retaliation,” hinting at future counterstrikes under the codename “Operation True Promise.”
The United Nations has called for an emergency session, urging both countries to exercise restraint and pursue diplomacy. Meanwhile, the United States has distanced itself from the planning of the assault but has placed its forces in the Middle East on high alert.
Political analysts are describing this operation as the most significant geopolitical development in the Middle East in 2025. While Israel may have dealt a strategic blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the consequences could trigger a prolonged regional war, global oil shortages, and a diplomatic crisis.
“Operation Rising Lion” is not merely a military maneuver, it marks a dangerous turning point for the region. The coming days may define the future of Tehran-Jerusalem relations and reshape global power dynamics.
