Israel Launches Major Offensive 'Rising Lion' Targeting Iran's Nuclear Facilities

In a significant escalation of Middle East tensions, Israel launched Operation "Rising Lion" on June 13, 2025, conducting preemptive airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear facilities and military leadership. The operation aimed to neutralize Iran's nuclear weaponization capabilities and involved coordinated efforts by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Mossad.

The strikes focused on key sites in Tehran and Natanz, including nuclear facilities, missile sites, and military installations. Significant damage was reported at the Natanz nuclear facility, Iran's primary uranium enrichment site. High-profile Iranian figures were killed, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Chief Commander Hossein Salami, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, and nuclear scientists Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the operation aimed to neutralize Iran's nuclear weaponization capabilities and would continue until the threat is eliminated. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that the precision strikes were accompanied by Mossad-led covert sabotage operations targeting missile and air defense infrastructures.

In response, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the Israeli action and promised a severe response. Iran launched over 100 drones at Israel and vowed severe retaliation, citing violations of international law. The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that Iran has the "legal and legitimate" right to respond to Israeli attacks under the UN Charter.

U.S. President Donald Trump remarked that it was not too late for Iran to prevent further attacks by agreeing to nuclear restrictions, hinting that U.S.-Iran nuclear talks might still proceed. The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged both sides to show maximum restraint, condemning any military escalation in the Middle East.

The strikes caused oil prices to increase by 7%, later rising to 11%, reaching their highest in a month. Global stock markets reacted negatively, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures losing 600 points.

Iran's nuclear program has been a point of contention for over a decade. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed in 2015 under President Obama, aimed to ensure Iran's nuclear program remained peaceful. However, President Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018, reinstating sanctions and escalating tensions.

Prior to this operation, there were limited direct strikes between Iran and Israel, escalating to large-scale missile exchanges by 2023. The latest Israeli offensive comes amid a UN resolution criticizing Iran for failing to meet nuclear non-proliferation commitments.

Operation "Rising Lion" represents a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern geopolitics, with far-reaching implications for international relations, economic stability, and regional security. As the situation continues to develop, the international community remains on high alert, closely monitoring the potential for further escalation.