Israel launched a major airstrike on Iran which killed senior Iranian military leaders, ruined buildings, and hit key nuclear sites.
(The Post News)– Israel has launched a massive military operation against Iran, striking key nuclear sites and killing senior Iranian military leaders in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called “Operation Rising Lion”.
The Israeli military confirmed that over 200 fighter jets were deployed in the opening phase of the campaign, targeting Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz, its ballistic missile infrastructure, and several command and control centres. According to Netanyahu, the operation aims to neutralise what he described as “imminent threats to Israel’s security”, and he warned that the offensive would continue over several days.
Among the high-profile casualties are two of Iran’s most powerful military leaders. General Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the country’s highest-ranking military officer, were both killed in the strikes. Their deaths represent a dramatic blow to Iran’s military leadership, drawing comparisons to the 2020 assassination of Qasem Soleimani.
Moreover, reports have stated that six nuclear scientists were also killed in the attack, confirming Israel’s targeting of individuals directly involved in the country’s controversial nuclear program. Iranian officials acknowledged the strikes and stated that several missiles were intercepted by air defences, though key installations sustained damage.
In response, Iran launched more than 100 drones toward Israeli territory. Israel’s military claimed that the majority were intercepted, though details about casualties or damages remain unclear. The Iranian government has vowed to respond forcefully, with officials promising that Israeli “aggression will not go unanswered”. Fears are mounting that retaliation could come not only from Iran but also from its allied militias and proxy forces across Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
The United States has moved quickly to distance itself from the operation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that there was no U.S. involvement in the Israeli action, and President Donald Trump, who is currently pursuing renewed nuclear negotiations with Tehran, had previously warned against any Israeli strike that could undermine diplomatic progress. Trump reiterated his position shortly before the operation began, saying, “We’re working to bring Iran to the table peacefully. Military escalation is not our path forward.”
The international community has reacted with deep concern. Oil prices surged in response to the news, while commercial airlines began rerouting flights to avoid Iranian and Israeli airspace. Several regional governments have put their militaries on high alert, and the United Nations Security Council is expected to convene an emergency session within the next 24 hours to address the growing crisis.
With Operation Rising Lion still underway, the world is left bracing for what could become one of the most consequential confrontations in the Middle East in years. As the stakes rise, so too does the risk of a broader regional war—one that could redraw alliances, destabilise governments, and derail fragile diplomatic efforts in an already fractured region.
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