In a surprising show of army precision and strategic intelligence, Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion” early Friday morning, delivering devastating blows to Iran’s nuclear weapons program and eliminating prime army commanders in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to as a mission to take away an existential risk to the Jewish state.
The unprecedented strikes, involving over 200 Israeli fighter jets hitting greater than 100 targets across Iran, characterize essentially the most vital assault on Iranian soil for the reason that Eighties Iraq-Iran conflict. The operation has successfully crippled Tehran’s nuclear ambitions whereas defending American pursuits with out placing a single U.S. soldier in danger.
Israeli forces efficiently focused Iran’s major uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, inflicting “vital harm” to underground centrifuge halls and supporting infrastructure vital to weapons growth. The strikes additionally hit amenities in Tehran and focused Iran’s ballistic missile manufacturing capabilities.
The assaults killed Iran’s prime army brass, together with Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Hossein Salami and Chief of Armed Forces Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, together with nuclear scientists Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi.
President Trump warned that Iran had been given “probability after probability to make a deal” on its nuclear program, and that the choice could be “a lot worse than something they know, anticipated, or had been informed.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that whereas the USA was indirectly concerned within the strikes, Israel had knowledgeable the Trump administration that the motion was “needed for its self-defense.” The President informed reporters the strikes had been “nice for the market” as a result of they guarantee “Iran is not going to have a nuclear weapon,” calling it “a really profitable assault, to place it mildly.”
Iran operates by a community of proxy terrorist organizations, reminiscent of Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen—which have destabilized host nations and, in some instances, supplanted native governments. Since October 2023, Iranian-backed militias have launched over 170 missile, rocket, and drone assaults on U.S. bases in Syria and Iraq, injuring at the very least 21 American service members. These similar teams have bombed the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon, attacked U.S. troops in Iraq, and fought in opposition to American allies in Syria.
Iran has additionally sought to determine a land bridge from Iran by Iraq and Syria into Lebanon, a hall some Hezbollah fighters consult with as “Wilayat Imam Ali” (the state or province of Imam Ali). In parallel, Houthi forces have mounted subtle assaults on business delivery within the Pink Sea, forcing greater than 540 vessels to reroute at vital value and disruption.
Israel serves as an important outpost for American values in one of many world’s most unstable areas, with a robust civil society, democratic establishments, free elections, an unbiased judiciary, and protections for speech and press. The U.S.-Israel alliance gives America with a key army, safety, and intelligence companion. Israel’s capabilities make it indispensable for confronting regional threats and advancing U.S. pursuits.
This operation marks a transparent overseas coverage success. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) praised Israel’s motion for example of “Peace By Power,” emphasizing how army readiness deters aggression. Moderately than leaving Israel to face Iran alone, the Trump administration supplied diplomatic backing whereas maintaining American forces out of hurt’s manner. By permitting Israel to neutralize the risk straight, the U.S. achieved its strategic targets with out deploying troops. President Trump stated stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons could be “nice for the market” and “the best factor ever for the market.”
The Israeli strikes got here simply days earlier than deliberate nuclear negotiations in Oman, geared toward addressing worldwide considerations over Iran’s uranium enrichment. Iran is presently enriching uranium to 60% purity—properly above the three.67% cap set by earlier agreements and dangerously near the 90% wanted for weapons-grade materials. In accordance with a former U.S. official, Iran was “basically bare” after Israel’s October 2024 raid destroyed its final three Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air missile programs, leaving it practically defenseless in opposition to airstrikes.
Israel’s operation delivers a number of strategic advantages for the USA. By eliminating the instant risk of a nuclear-armed Iran, the strike helps forestall a regional arms race. Focusing on key Iranian commanders disrupts terrorist networks that threaten American troops, allies, and belongings, whereas degrading Iran’s capabilities protects international delivery lanes and vitality infrastructure—benefiting the U.S. financial system.
The operation additionally underscores the worth of supporting sturdy democratic allies. Israel’s decisive motion superior American pursuits with out risking U.S. lives, demonstrating the effectiveness of President Trump’s doctrine of “Peace By Power.” As Trump famous, this ensures Iran won’t ever threaten the world with nuclear weapons and reinforces Israel’s function as a bulwark in opposition to Islamic extremism and terrorism. It’s a transparent overseas coverage success: most strategic achieve with minimal American danger.
Iran launched over 100 drones towards Israel in retaliation, however Israel’s army stated its air defenses had shot down most of them. This demonstrates Israel’s superior defensive capabilities and Iran’s restricted potential to reply successfully.
Simone Ledeen, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Protection for the Center East below President Trump, says Iran now faces degraded capabilities and restricted choices for significant retaliation. She anticipates continued covert actions and doable Israeli follow-on strikes, notably geared toward Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and army command construction.
Ledeen argues that U.S. help for Israel goes past alliance—it’s a matter of nationwide curiosity. “There are round 300,000 People presently in Israel. Supporting Israel’s safety is about defending our personal residents and our personal pursuits within the area, because it at all times has been,” she stated.
She urged continued intelligence, materials, and diplomatic backing, stating that President Trump has made clear the U.S. will help if Israel is attacked. “Strategic readability now will assist deter additional escalation,” she concluded.
