Segun Atanda/
Israel launched a massive, meticulously planned assault on Iran yesterday, marking the most devastating attack on Iranian soil in nearly 50 years.
The operation, named Rising Lion, targeted Iran’s nuclear-enrichment programme, military infrastructure, and key figures in its scientific and military leadership, leaving significant destruction and geopolitical reverberations.
The attack involved approximately 200 Israeli aircraft, launching at around 1am UK time. But the groundwork for the mission was laid long before, involving Mossad agents and Israeli special forces who infiltrated Iran to smuggle weapons, prepare drones, and gather intelligence.
The operation sought to cripple Iran’s nuclear ambitions and potentially ignite political change in Tehran.
In the final hours before the strike, Israel informed the United States of its plans, despite ongoing US-Iran talks on de-escalating nuclear tensions. The advance notice allowed US diplomats in the region to take security precautions.
Israel’s operation struck the Natanz nuclear facility, the epicentre of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme. Significant damage was inflicted on the multi-story enrichment halls housing thousands of centrifuges, disrupting Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Additionally, Iranian air defense systems and radar installations were wiped out in central and western Iran. Israeli special forces used kamikaze drones for precision strikes on key military facilities, crippling Iran’s response capabilities.
Prominent Iranian figures killed included Major General Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of Iran’s UAV force; and several leading nuclear scientists.
Explosions were also reported at Mehrabad airport in Tehran, Tabriz airport, and an oil refinery, alongside the Nojeh airbase in Hamedan, where senior Iranian officers were killed in a bunker attack.
Iran retaliated with over 150 ballistic missiles targeting Israel. Casualties included three deaths and 19 injuries in Israel, with rockets damaging buildings and vehicles in Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv.
Israeli emergency services worked through the night, responding to widespread damage.
In Tehran, explosions and fires at critical sites fuelled nationalistic rallies, with citizens chanting anti-Israel slogans and pledging to defend their country.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged both nations to de-escalate, emphasising the need for diplomacy.
The United States, while denying involvement in Israel’s initial strikes, offered assistance in countering Iran’s missile barrage.
Israel’s operation highlighted its advanced military capabilities, blending conventional power with cutting-edge technology.
Observers noted the influence of tactics shared with Ukraine, reflecting Israel’s support for Ukraine amid Iran’s drone supplies to Russia.
The attack also underscored growing tensions around Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Just days earlier, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported Iran’s refusal to cooperate with inspections, coupled with plans to expand enrichment facilities—a move that likely prompted Israel’s decisive action.
As both sides exchanged blows, the human toll mounted. Iranian officials reported 78 deaths and over 300 injuries from Israel’s initial strikes. In Israel, civilians sought refuge in bomb shelters as air raid sirens blared.
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