Israel Launches First Strike on Iran: What It Means for the Middel e.

By [Cristiano fantasia]

Lead

On June 13, 2025, in a bold and tightly coordinated military move dubbed Operation Rising Lion, Israel struck more than 100 strategic sites deep within Iran—targeting nuclear facilities, missile bases and high‑ranking military commanders. Backed by covert Mossad drone operations, the strikes mark the fiercest escalation in the Israel‑Iran shadow war to date.

1. Context and Motivation

The operation reflects accumulated enough enriched uranium within days to fuel several nuclear bombs .
Israeli officials have long viewed Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat, framing the pre‑emptive strikes as necessary to prevent weaponization .
Drawing parallels with historic precedents, political analysts liken this offensive to decisive wartime moments like the British resolve in WWII—and warn of its potential ripple effects .Israel Iran first strike

2. First Strike: Scale and Execution

Five waves of airstrikes involving over 200 aircraft dropped more than 330 munitions on roughly 100 targets across Tehran, Natanz, Isfahan, Tabriz, and beyond .
Covert Mossad drones and commandos reportedly operated from a secretly established drone base within Iran, disabling air-defenses and missile launchers to clear the way for Israeli jets .
Satellite imagery confirms substantial damage at nuclear enrichment sites and ballistic missile bases, signaling a sharp blow to Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure .Israel Iran first strike

3. Targeted Killings

Strikes reportedly killed several IRGC generals and nuclear scientists, including figures like Hossein Salami, Mohammad Baqeri and others .
The IDF confirmed that the operation hit both nuclear facilities and military leadership centers—while some Iranian media reports claimed Israeli jets were downed, these remain unverified .Israel Iran first strike

4. Iran’s Response

That same day, Iran launched a massive counter-strike using over 150 ballistic missiles and 100+ drones targeting cities across Israel .
Israeli Iron Dome, with assistance from US missile defense assets like AEGIS and THAAD, intercepted the bulk of the attack, though 22 Israeli soldiers were hurt, and several civilians, including children, were killed .
Israel remains on high alert, anticipating “several waves” more of air and missile assaults .Israel Iran first strike

5. Regional and Global Fallout

Flight disruptions, embassy closures, and emergency diplomatic councils ensued worldwide .
Oil markets surged amid fears of conflict spreading through the Strait of Hormuz .
Major international players—including the US, UK and France—warned against escalation, while the US repositioned destroyers and air-defense systems in the region .
A looming threat: analysts warn uncontained escalation could spark a broader war—possibly even global in scale .

6. Strategic and Military Significance

Israel’s first-ever deep overseas drone and sabotage campaign marks a paradigm shift: hybrid operations combining covert Mossad elements and overt Air Force power .
The damage to Iran’s air-defenses and missile capacity is significant—not just symbolic but operational, limiting future strikes .

7. Domestic Political Impact in Israel

Benjamin Netanyahu frames the operation as both a strategic imperative and personal legacy, rallying support amid legal troubles and political uncertainty .
Domestically, the move has temporarily unified public sentiment—while activists warn of rising tensions amid next elections .

8. What Comes Next?

Experts anticipate:
- Iranian missile and drone retaliation could continue for unknown length.
- Regional proxies, like Hezbollah in Lebanon, may join the conflict front .
- The possibility of US–Iran engagement, either diplomatically or militarily, is growing.
Diplomatic efforts have stalled: talks in Oman have been canceled, and sanctions-diplomacy reaches its limit .

Conclusion

Operation Rising Lion represents a historic shift in Israel’s approach to Iran—moving beyond remote sabotage and cyber warfare to direct military intrusion. Whether this bold offensive marks the threshold of a new regional war or the beginning of deterrence through strength depends on the soon-to-be-seen Iranian response—and the global community’s ability to contain further escalation.