Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a large-scale attack taking aim at Iran’s nuclear facilities, military sites, and top military commanders on Friday, June 13. In a televised address on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the goal was to “roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival” by preventing Iran from building nuclear weapons. He said that the attack would continue “for as many days as it takes” to eliminate the threat. Israeli attacks on Iran continued on Friday.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Israel’s attack amounts to a “declaration of war,” and Iran retaliated with its own barrage of drones and missiles. Experts say that further escalation could potentially destabilize the Iranian regime and the entire region.
Why did Israel attack Iran?
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Netanyahu alleged that Iran has enough enriched uranium to make nine nuclear bombs and said the strikes were targeted at Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile factories, and military capabilities. He said that Iran had taken steps in recent months toward weaponizing its nuclear program.
While Iran does not yet possess a nuclear weapon, international scrutiny of its nuclear and missile programs has intensified. On Thursday, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog, said that Iran was in breach of its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) obligations for the first time in almost twenty years. Iran denounced the declaration, vowing to establish a new uranium enrichment facility.
Israel had previously launched major attacks against Iran in October 2024, targeting Iran’s air defenses and missile production facilities. In November, Israel reached a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, one of Iran’s regional allies, after more than a year of fighting that decimated the militia’s leadership and military capabilities. Israel has also severely weakened Hamas, which Iran supports.
What did the strikes target?
Israeli strikes took aim at several locations across Iran’s capital, Tehran, as well as critical nuclear and military facilities and air defense infrastructure throughout the country. Iran’s main nuclear enrichment site at Natanz was “significantly damaged,” according to an Israeli military spokesperson. Netanyahu said Israel’s operation had hit at the heart of Iran’s nuclear program, though this claim and the extent of the damage has not been independently verified.
Which Iranian leaders were killed on Friday?
Iranian state media said several top military commanders were killed in the strikes, which the Israeli military said involved more than two hundred fighter jets. Those killed included:
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Major General Mohammad Bagheri. Since 2016, Bagheri served as chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, making him Iran’s highest-ranking military officer. He was replaced by Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi.
Major General Hossein Salami. Salami was chief commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) since 2019, leading one of Iran’s most powerful military and political organizations. He was replaced by General Mohammad Pakpour.
Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Hajizadeh was commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, a position he held since 2009.
Major General Gholam Ali Rashid. Rashid was deputy commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that at least six nuclear scientists were also killed in the strikes, including Fereydoun Abbasi, former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, president of the Islamic Azad University.
How has Iran responded?
In near immediate retaliation, Iran launched about one hundred drones toward the country, all of which Israel’s military said were intercepted outside Israeli airspace. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei promised “harsh punishment” for the attacks, while President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Iran’s response “will make [Israel] regret its foolish actions.”
Iran fired dozens of ballistic missiles later Friday, with blasts reportedly heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The Israeli military confirmed that Iran had launched missiles toward Israel and said its missile defense systems had worked to stop the retaliatory attack. Late Friday, the Associated Press reported that the U.S. military was helping Israel to intercept Iranian missiles.
Israel’s aim is to neutralize Iran’s ability to respond, CFR Middle East expert Steven A. Cook said at a CFR media briefing. “I think they [Israel] will continue to one, go after the nuclear program, as well as continue with targets that would weaken the foundations of the Islamic Republic,” he added.
What happens now with U.S.-Iranian diplomacy?
Israel’s initial attack came ahead of a sixth round of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations that were scheduled to take place in Oman on June 15. Iranian state media reported on Friday that the country would no longer engage and that the talks have been suspended indefinitely. That same day, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States was not involved in Israel’s military operation, while U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iran to reach a nuclear deal “before there is nothing left.” As tensions escalate, the UN Security Council is holding an emergency open briefing Friday over Israel’s strikes, following a request by Iran’s Araghchi.
Will Merrow and Michael Bricknell created the map for this article.
Day One of Israel’s Strikes on Iran: What to Know
Israel’s large-scale attack on Iran’s nuclear and military structures threatens to further escalate Mideast tensions while weakening Iran and its proxy network.
June 13, 2025 3:59 pm (EST)
- Article
- Current political and economic issues succinctly explained.
Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a large-scale attack taking aim at Iran’s nuclear facilities, military sites, and top military commanders on Friday, June 13. In a televised address on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the goal was to “roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival” by preventing Iran from building nuclear weapons. He said that the attack would continue “for as many days as it takes” to eliminate the threat. Israeli attacks on Iran continued on Friday.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Israel’s attack amounts to a “declaration of war,” and Iran retaliated with its own barrage of drones and missiles. Experts say that further escalation could potentially destabilize the Iranian regime and the entire region.
Why did Israel attack Iran?
More on:
Netanyahu alleged that Iran has enough enriched uranium to make nine nuclear bombs and said the strikes were targeted at Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile factories, and military capabilities. He said that Iran had taken steps in recent months toward weaponizing its nuclear program.
While Iran does not yet possess a nuclear weapon, international scrutiny of its nuclear and missile programs has intensified. On Thursday, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog, said that Iran was in breach of its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) obligations for the first time in almost twenty years. Iran denounced the declaration, vowing to establish a new uranium enrichment facility.
Israel had previously launched major attacks against Iran in October 2024, targeting Iran’s air defenses and missile production facilities. In November, Israel reached a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, one of Iran’s regional allies, after more than a year of fighting that decimated the militia’s leadership and military capabilities. Israel has also severely weakened Hamas, which Iran supports.
What did the strikes target?
Israeli strikes took aim at several locations across Iran’s capital, Tehran, as well as critical nuclear and military facilities and air defense infrastructure throughout the country. Iran’s main nuclear enrichment site at Natanz was “significantly damaged,” according to an Israeli military spokesperson. Netanyahu said Israel’s operation had hit at the heart of Iran’s nuclear program, though this claim and the extent of the damage has not been independently verified.
Which Iranian leaders were killed on Friday?
Iranian state media said several top military commanders were killed in the strikes, which the Israeli military said involved more than two hundred fighter jets. Those killed included:
More on:
Major General Mohammad Bagheri. Since 2016, Bagheri served as chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, making him Iran’s highest-ranking military officer. He was replaced by Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi.
Major General Hossein Salami. Salami was chief commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) since 2019, leading one of Iran’s most powerful military and political organizations. He was replaced by General Mohammad Pakpour.
Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Hajizadeh was commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, a position he held since 2009.
Major General Gholam Ali Rashid. Rashid was deputy commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that at least six nuclear scientists were also killed in the strikes, including Fereydoun Abbasi, former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, president of the Islamic Azad University.
How has Iran responded?
In near immediate retaliation, Iran launched about one hundred drones toward the country, all of which Israel’s military said were intercepted outside Israeli airspace. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei promised “harsh punishment” for the attacks, while President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Iran’s response “will make [Israel] regret its foolish actions.”
Iran fired dozens of ballistic missiles later Friday, with blasts reportedly heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The Israeli military confirmed that Iran had launched missiles toward Israel and said its missile defense systems had worked to stop the retaliatory attack. Late Friday, the Associated Press reported that the U.S. military was helping Israel to intercept Iranian missiles.
Israel’s aim is to neutralize Iran’s ability to respond, CFR Middle East expert Steven A. Cook said at a CFR media briefing. “I think they [Israel] will continue to one, go after the nuclear program, as well as continue with targets that would weaken the foundations of the Islamic Republic,” he added.
What happens now with U.S.-Iranian diplomacy?
Israel’s initial attack came ahead of a sixth round of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations that were scheduled to take place in Oman on June 15. Iranian state media reported on Friday that the country would no longer engage and that the talks have been suspended indefinitely. That same day, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States was not involved in Israel’s military operation, while U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iran to reach a nuclear deal “before there is nothing left.” As tensions escalate, the UN Security Council is holding an emergency open briefing Friday over Israel’s strikes, following a request by Iran’s Araghchi.
Will Merrow and Michael Bricknell created the map for this article.
