In the wee hours of Friday, 200 war planes of the IDF took off from various Air bases in Israel and flew over Syria, Jordan and Iraqi airspace and carried out lethal air strikes over 100 targets in Iran. The main targets were nuclear facilities, Missile Depots, Military bases, and NBC Research Centres. The important centres at Tabriz, Kermanshah, Tehran, Arak, and Isfahan were bombarded with precision smart munitions. UAVs and drones were also used for killing top nuclear scientists and military commanders by smuggling them covertly deep inside Iran by Mossad agents. Reports confirmed that the Natanz Nuke facility in Central Iran, Missile bases at Khorramabad and Kermanshah in North-western Iran were extensively neutralised. Two security complexes and six military bases were charred by the accurate bombing of Israeli Jets. Israel’s PM declared in an address to the Nation at midday on Friday,”We have struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove the threat.” The List of fatal casualties include the following top military brass of Iran and scientists – General Mohammad Bagheri (Chief of Army Staff), General Hossein Salami (Commander, Islamic revolutionary guard corps), General Amir Ali haji Zadeh (Air space corps head), Gen Gulam Ali Rashid (Head, Joint operations), Ali Shamkhani (Political rep of Khamenei coordinating nuclear talks with US), Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, Fereydoon Abbasi and four more nuclear scientist working on Atomic weapons. Iran has not been hit so hard in past as in Op Rising Lion, in which its dream to become a nuclear power has been shattered.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme religious head of Iran, made a statement on Friday evening. “The Zionist regime has committed a crime with its satanic, blood-stained hands. The regime now should expect a severe punishment from us.” Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were pounded with more than 100 ballistic missiles at dusk on Friday. Iranian News agency IRNA reported explosions, fire, blasts in Israel, and sirens of rescue teams could be heard. It was followed by a Swarm drone attack. Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that Iron Dome had been activated and 95% of Iran’s missiles were destroyed in the air, but a few escaped and landed in civilian areas.
Iran was a monarchy since 1952 and was ruled by the Shah of Iran, who had the support of the United States and the West, and had a liberal outlook and introduced various reforms. It had cordial relations with Israel also. The Islamic Revolution of 1979 changed the course of history. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a hardliner, became the supreme ruler and renamed the country the Islamic Republic of Iran, which adopted a theocratic constitution and the capitalist economy was replaced by Islamic rules and policies.
Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei said on Friday evening, “The Zionist regime has committed a crime with its satanic, blood-stained hands. The regime now should expect a severe punishment from us.” More than 100 ballistic missiles pounded Tel Aviv and Jerusalem at dusk
Western influence was reduced, and Sharia laws were introduced. Iran gradually turned against the USA and Israel. Iraq invaded Iran in 1980, and after 10 long years, it ended in 1989. Khomeini died in 1989. He had appointed Ali Khamenei as the new supreme leader with 25 25-member governing council. Radicalisation of Iran commenced, and it vowed to challenge the existence of Israel. Iran, over the years, has been undertaking heavy weaponising programmes and arming itself with Ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones to become the head of the Islamic world and overshadow Saudi Arabia. The point to note is that Iran, the old name Persia, is a Shia-dominated state.
Iran has been playing a double game and was deceptively negotiating with the West and the US that it was not producing nuclear weapons but only enhancing nuclear energy projects for peaceful means. Mossad was keeping an eye on its secret projects. The US and Israel were aware that Iran was covertly funding billions of dollars in three H terror outfits (Hezbollah, Hamas and Houthis). Israel Defence Forces retaliated with full might as the Hamas terrorists played mayhem in a kibbutz along the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, and killed/abducted 200 plus Israeli citizens celebrating in a camping site. About 50 Israelis are still held hostage. Gaza town was razed to the ground. Hundreds of Hamas cadres were killed. The tunnel network was demolished.
After neutralising the Hamas threat, the IDF attacked Lebanon and destroyed the Hezbollah hideouts. Mossad finally reported in early 2025 that Iran had achieved enrichment capability and had enough fissile material to make 9/10 nuclear bombs. Israel now took the USA into confidence and asked for a go-ahead. The USA checked the offensive action and warned Iran to discontinue its plan to develop nuclear bombs. Iran assured that there was no plan for manufacturing Atom[c devices, but covertly, Project A continued. There were five rounds of summits mediated by Oman and Qatar between Iran and the USA, and the 6th meeting was being planned when Israel lost patience and struck ferociously.
US President Donald Trump warned Iran not to escalate the conflict and suggested that Tehran make a deal renouncing its nuclear ambition before things get worse and there is nothing left. He said the US gave enough chances to negotiate, but Iran remained stubborn and now faces the consequences
The IDF’s main objective was to cripple Iranian nuclear assets so that nuclear threat to Zion land is eliminated. The first target was Iran’s main Uranium enrichment plant located at Natanz. It has recently upgraded and reinforced underground structures where about 14,000 active centrifuges are located and could enrich a large quantity of uranium to weapon grade. The Natanz facility has been destroyed by Hammer and Cruise missiles. The second target was the Fordow nuclear facility located near Qom city. It is established 800 metres deep under a mountain and the best protected site for nuclear enrichment to bomb grade level. The plant is still operational and was not be neutralised. The third important target was Parchin Military Complex, where nuclear triggers are manufactured, stored and tested. IDF has partially destroyed it. The fourth objective was the Tabriz military missile base, where a modern nuclear research centre was operational, which has been damaged beyond repair.
Iran has retaliated with long range ballistic missiles and drones at Tel Aviv, Haifa and other towns, causing heavy destruction of buildings and human casualties. Iran shot down a few IDF fighters on the first day with the S-400 system provided by Russia, but on D plus 2, Israel has achieved Air superiority.
Iran’s General Mohsin Rezai made a controversial statement, claiming that Pakistan will drop an atomic bomb on Israel in support of Iran, which drew a lot of adverse comments. Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif clarified within a few hours on X that Pakistan has not made any such commitment
Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address to the nation that attacks on Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities were planned in November 2024, to be launched in April 2025, but had to be postponed due to unforeseen operational considerations. Operation Rising Lion is with a purpose. If Iran possesses a nuclear arsenal, it would be a “direct threat to our existence”. Iran has achieved the threshold where it has enriched fissile material to make 9 nuclear warheads. Netanyahu also cautioned his citizens to stay calm and vigilant as Iran will retaliate, and have faith in the IDF. Israel’s Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, said the offensive was initiated as there was no option left. History has taught us to fight to preserve our origin and existence.
US President Donald Trump warned Iran not to escalate the conflict and suggested that Tehran make a deal renouncing its nuclear ambition before things get worse and there is nothing left. He said the US gave enough chances to negotiate, but Iran remained stubborn and now faces the consequences. He warned that if any of the US assets in Israel, or anywhere, are targeted, the US Armed Forces will respond with full might. The Group of Seven nations (G7) issued a strong joint statement backing Israel and condemned Iran for generating regional instability. G7 endorsed the right of self-defence and the existence of Israel. Russia and China have shown solidarity with Iran and stated that the sovereignty of Iran must be respected.
Iran’s health ministry has announced that 224 Iranians have been killed in Israeli Air raids and 24 Israeli citizens have lost their lives. The Iran News office was also bombarded on June 16 when the live telecast was in progress, and 20 top army generals and nuclear scientists have been killed so far. General Ali Shamdani, the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff four days ago after General Rashid, was also killed on June 17, leaving a vacuum in the military hierarchy.
India has taken a balanced stand. Prime Minister Modi has spoken to the Israeli Prime Minister and the President of Iran. He reiterated that both countries must show restraint and that “this is no Era of War”. He also opposed any nation making nuclear threats. India has evacuated 110 Indian students from Iran to Yerevan in Armenia.
India has taken a very balanced stand. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to the Israeli Prime Minister and the President of Iran. He reiterated that both countries must show restraint and that “this is no Era of War”. He also opposed any nation making nuclear threats. Israel has the right of self-defence. India has good defence relations with Israel and cordial economic relations with Iran. Chabahar port development is a crucial link in the eastern corridor to Europe. Meanwhile, 110 Indian students have been safely shifted from Iran to Yerevan in Armenia.
General Mohsin Rezai of the Iranian Security Council made a controversial statement, claiming that Pakistan will drop an atomic bomb on Israel in support of Iran, inviting a lot of adverse comments. Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif clarified within a few hours on X that Pakistan has not made any such commitment.
In the meantime, the missile war is continuing. Iranian missiles hit the Mossad headquarters and the Oil Refinery in Haifa. Israel struck Iranian oil fields on the fourth day of the war. Israel has achieved its objective by degrading nuclear enrichment structure, missile silos, research centres and most importantly, eliminating the top nuclear scientists and military commanders. A truce may be announced soon. President Trump left the G7 summit behind and USS Nimitz is heading for the Gulf. West Asia has become a war zone in the World.
-The writer is an Indian Army veteran and a defence analyst. He has keen interest in Geo-strategic affairs and writes regularly on internal and external affairs issues related to India and neighbours. The views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
