In a major escalation, Iran was attacked on Friday, June 13, 2025, by Israel. This attack, dubbed “Operation Rising Lion” by Israel, targeted various sites across Iran.
How and by what means was Iran attacked?
* Airstrikes: The primary means of attack was a barrage of airstrikes. Reports indicate that over 200 Israeli Air Force fighter jets were involved, hitting more than 100 targets.
* Targeted Facilities: The airstrikes focused on:
* Nuclear sites: Crucially, Israel struck Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz, where black smoke was reportedly seen. Other nuclear sites were also targeted.
* Military sites: This included ballistic missile manufacturing sites, missile launchers, and air defense systems in western Iran.
* Leadership: The attacks reportedly killed top military officers, including the chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, and several nuclear scientists.
* Residential sites: Some reports also indicated that residential areas in Tehran were hit, causing injuries.
* Covert Operations: In addition to overt airstrikes, there were reports of more clandestine means:
* Explosive Drones: Israel’s Mossad spy agency reportedly positioned explosive drones inside Iran and activated them to target missile launchers.
* Smuggled Weapons: Precision weapons and strike systems on vehicles were allegedly smuggled into central Iran and activated during the attack to target Iranian air defenses.
Prior incidents and context:
It’s important to note that while this recent attack is a significant escalation, Israel has previously engaged in covert operations and cyberattacks against Iran, particularly targeting its nuclear program. The most well-known example is the Stuxnet cyberworm discovered in 2010, believed to be a joint US-Israeli effort, which severely damaged Iran’s nuclear centrifuges. Iran has also faced other cyberattacks on its infrastructure, with Iranian officials often blaming the US and Israel.