Who Was the Target?
The goal of Israel’s operation, code-named Operation Rising Lion, was to destroy Iran’s command-and-control, ballistic missile, and nuclear capabilities. The following were the main targets:
Nuclear Establishments
- Damage to the Natanz uranium enrichment site was obvious in satellite images.
- There were further reports of damage to other facilities in Khorramabad, Khondab, and maybe Tabriz.
👤 Military Command
- IRGC head commander Hossein Salami was murdered.
- Iran’s chief of staff for the armed forces, Mohammad Bagheri, was murdered.
- The leader of the IRGC Aerospace Force, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, was also said to have died.
- Other high-ranking officials such as Gholam Ali Rashid and Ali Shamkhani were among the verified casualties.
Experts in Nuclear Science
Leading scientists were killed in at least six cases, including:
- The former leader of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization was Fereydoon Abbasi.
- Mehdi Tehranchi, Muhammad.
- Two more were confirmed by Iran’s Tasnim News, making six in all.
🧭 What Makes These Targets?
Israel perceived Iran’s missile and nuclear programs as existential threats. According to Prime Minister Netanyahu, the declared goal was to “roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s survival.”
This massive attack came after months of intelligence collection and clandestine sabotage, most likely carried out by Mossad agents inside Iran to destroy defenses and locate valuable targets.
Capabilities and Scale
- Participating in the pre-dawn strikes were more than 200 fighter jets.
- Since the 1980s Iran-Iraq War, it was the most direct Israeli attack on Iran.
Regional Impacts
- Iran retaliated by launching over 100 drones at Israel. The vast majority were intercepted by Israeli air defenses.
- The strike damaged recent nuclear discussions between the United States and Iran, interfering with diplomatic efforts.
- There is growing anxiety around the world that this might turn into a larger confrontation in the Middle East.
✅Summary Table
| Category | Targets |
|---|---|
| Nuclear Sites | Natanz (confirmed), other enrichment/missile |
| Military Leaders | Salami, Bagheri, Hajizadeh (+ Rashid, Shamkhani) |
| Scientists | Abbasi, Tehranchi + four others (total 6) |
| Mode of Attack | Airstrike + covert operations by Mossad |
| Retaliation | 100+ drones launched by Iran (mostly intercepted) |
An accurate, intelligence-driven attack on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities that results in significant leadership losses is a major escalation. Particularly regarding regional reprisal and diplomatic ramifications, the situation is changing quickly.
