Peerzada Masarat Shah | June 13, 2025
In a dramatic escalation that has sent shockwaves across the globe, Israel launched a massive barrage of airstrikes deep inside Iranian territory on Friday, targeting nuclear facilities and assassinating top military commanders, pushing the volatile Middle East to the edge of an all-out war. The audacious operation, named “Operation Rising Lion” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has heightened fears of a catastrophic regional conflict with far-reaching consequences for global stability.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that over 200 fighter jets, backed by smuggled drones, struck more than 100 strategic targets, including Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz, ballistic missile factories, air defence systems, and military bases. Explosions rocked Tehran, Tabriz, and Khorramabad, with Iranian state media reporting strikes on residential complexes housing senior military officials. Iran’s Fars news agency cited “unofficial statistics” of over 70 deaths and 320 injuries, including civilians and children. Among the high-profile casualties were Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s top military officer, and Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the IRGC’s Aerospace Forces. At least six nuclear scientists were also killed, dealing a severe blow to Iran’s military and scientific leadership.
In a swift response, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour as the new IRGC commander, vowing a “harsh and painful” retaliation. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi termed the strikes a “declaration of war” and demanded an emergency UN Security Council meeting. Iran launched nearly 100 drones towards Israel, which the IDF claimed to have intercepted outside its airspace. Images of smoke rising from bombed sites in Tehran, broadcast by Iranian media, have sparked public outrage, with protesters chanting for vengeance.
Israel justified the strikes as a “preemptive, precise, combined offensive” to halt Iran’s alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons, claiming intelligence suggested Tehran could produce a bomb within months—a charge Iran denies. Netanyahu, addressing the nation from Jerusalem, declared the operation vital to “roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s survival.” The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed damage to Natanz but is yet to assess radiation risks. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid hailed the strikes as a triumph on X, though the full extent of damage to Iran’s nuclear programme remains unclear.
The international response has been a mix of condemnation and caution. US President Donald Trump, denying direct American involvement, called the strikes “very successful” and urged Iran to negotiate a nuclear deal “before there is nothing left.” His comments on Truth Social, hinting at a 60-day ultimatum to Iran, suggest possible US-Israel coordination. European leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron, called for restraint, while Russia and China slammed Israel for violating international law. Arab states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE remained silent, caught between their ties with Israel and trade with Iran. A UN conference on a two-state solution for Israel-Palestine was postponed amid the crisis.
The airstrikes have derailed hopes for reviving US-Iran nuclear talks, scheduled for Sunday. The Middle East, already scarred by conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, faces a potential domino effect. Hezbollah could escalate in Lebanon, Syria risks becoming a proxy battleground, and Iraq may see renewed militia activity. Oil prices are set to soar, and airlines have diverted flights over the region, fearing missile exchanges. The humanitarian toll—displacement, deaths, and a looming refugee crisis—threatens to deepen the region’s misery.
Analysts, warn that Israel’s “preemptive defence” doctrine fuels a cycle of violence, masquerading as security while sowing chaos.
