By Olatunbosun Obafemi
Israel has launched a sweeping military operation against Iran, striking multiple high-value targets in what appears to be one of its most direct assaults in recent history.
Dubbed Operation Rising Lion, the campaign has targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and military leadership, with particular focus on the Natanz enrichment facility and a military airbase in Tabriz.
Natanz, Iran’s primary uranium enrichment site, was hit twice within hours. The site houses tens of thousands of centrifuges and plays a critical role in Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin confirmed that the strikes “significantly harmed” the facility, accusing Iran of using it to advance a covert military nuclear program. While Tehran denies seeking nuclear weapons, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently warned that Iran’s capabilities could be converted to military-grade enrichment if pursued.
In a parallel strike, Israel reportedly assassinated several senior Iranian figures, including Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force. Hajizadeh had overseen Iran’s missile program and was sanctioned by the U.S. for his role in past confrontations, including the 2019 downing of a U.S. drone and the mistaken 2020 shooting of a Ukrainian airliner.
Iran confirmed the attacks but reported no radiation leaks, according to the IAEA. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Truth Social that Iran now has a “second chance” to make a nuclear deal—days after new talks were due to resume in Oman. Iran has accused Washington of supporting the strikes, a charge the U.S. denies.
In response, Iran has launched a series of missile and drone attacks on Israeli military outposts in the Golan Heights and near the city of Eilat. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria have also reportedly fired rockets at U.S. and Israeli-linked targets, signaling the opening of a broader regional front. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has vowed “severe consequences,” calling the Israeli strikes an act of war.
The attacks and counter attacks mark a dramatic escalation in the long-running shadow war between the two nations, raising tensions across the region and casting uncertainty over any diplomatic resolution to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
