Israel, on June 12, launched a series of preemptive airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities under the banner of Operation Rising Lion. The high-intensity strikes, described as a “targeted military operation,” resulted in the death of Major General Hossein Salami, chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and several other top Iranian military officials, including Iran’s military chief Mohammad Bagheri, according to reports by AFP and Iranian news agency Tasnim.
Confirming the operation in a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared: “Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.”
Revolutionary Guards Chief Among Dead, IRGC HQ Targeted
Iranian state television confirmed the “martyrdom” of General Salami, noting that he was killed in a strike on the IRGC headquarters. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a powerful military and ideological force, commands Iran’s ballistic missile program and plays a central role in projecting Iranian influence across the region.
Iranian TV reporting the “martyrdom” of Hossein Salami – the chief of the IRGC https://t.co/y0OvoUYSca
— Abhijit Iyer-Mitra (@Iyervval) June 13, 2025
Local media also reported the deaths of several nuclear scientists and high-ranking military personnel in the strikes. The Times of Israel described the assault as one of the most significant targeted attacks on Iran’s military leadership in recent memory.
Operation Triggered by Nuclear Tensions and IAEA Censure
The airstrikes came just hours after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issued its first formal censure against Iran in two decades, citing Tehran’s lack of transparency and recent acceleration of uranium enrichment activities. In response, Iran had announced its intention to build a third enrichment facility and upgrade its centrifuges, moves that deepened Israeli fears of an imminent nuclear breakout.
Israel, which maintains a long-standing policy of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, said the action was necessary to neutralise what it views as an existential threat.
Moments ago, Israel launched Operation “Rising Lion”, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.
This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.
——
Statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: pic.twitter.com/XgUTy90g1S
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) June 13, 2025
Israel Declares State of Emergency, Closes Airspace
Following the strikes, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that missile and drone attacks from Iran were expected in retaliation and declared a state of emergency on the home front.
“In the wake of the State of Israel’s preventive attack against Iran, missile and drone attacks against Israel and its civilian population are expected immediately,” Katz stated.
A statement from IDF Spokesperson BG Effie Defrin on the preemptive Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear targets pic.twitter.com/IJNT5LXz6o
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 13, 2025
He added that he had signed a special emergency order, urging the public to strictly follow instructions from the Home Front Command and remain in protected shelters.
Israel also closed its airspace as a precautionary measure amid fears of an Iranian counter-offensive.
U.S. Confirms it Was Not Involved, But Warns Iran
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the United States was not involved in the Israeli strikes, but acknowledged prior notification from Tel Aviv.
“Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio said.
“Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel,” he warned.
However, the strike sparked sharp criticism from U.S. lawmakers. Senator Jack Reed, the Democratic chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, condemned Israel’s action as a dangerous provocation.
“These strikes threaten not only the lives of innocent civilians but the stability of the entire Middle East and the safety of American citizens and forces,” Reed said.
He urged both countries to show restraint and called on President Trump and international partners to push for diplomatic de-escalation.
Commercial Aircraft Diverted Mid-Air, Oil Prices Surge
As the strikes were underway, several commercial aircraft were flying over Iranian airspace, leading to chaotic diversions as pilots attempted to exit the danger zone. Flight tracking data revealed abrupt course changes by multiple airlines.
Meanwhile, global oil markets reacted sharply, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) surging 6.3 per cent to $72.29 per barrel, and Brent crude rising 5.7 per cent to $73.29, reflecting fears of broader conflict in the oil-rich region.
Israeli Air Force Hits Strategic Nuclear and Military Sites
An Israeli defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity as quoted in Times of India said the strikes targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, missile stockpiles, and military command structures, although he declined to name specific locations.
The official emphasised that Israel’s core concerns remain threefold:
1) Iran’s suspected secret nuclear weapons development,
2) Its expansive ballistic missile arsenal, and
3) Its support for militant proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas.
The source also noted that the IDF is prepared for multiple waves of operation and is on high alert for cross-border retaliation from Iranian-aligned forces in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
Trump Attends Social Events Amid Tehran Crisis
Amid unfolding chaos in Tehran, U.S. President Donald Trump was seen hosting members of Congress on the White House lawn, posing for photos and engaging in casual conversation. While the White House declined to comment on whether he was briefed in real-time, earlier in the day, Trump had remarked that an Israeli strike on Iranian facilities was “always a possibility.”
Ahead of the attack, the U.S. government had already withdrawn diplomatic staff from Baghdad and issued evacuation options for military families stationed in the region, anticipating possible escalation.
