A deep-cover Mossad operation and coordinated airstrikes targeted Tehran’s nuclear sites and top commanders in a pre-dawn offensive
Tel Aviv, Israel (High Desert News Online) – Israel launched Operation Rising Lion on June 13, 2025, with precise airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and Tehran’s military infrastructure, marking one of the most daring Mossad operations in decades. The covert mission embedded Mossad commandos inside Iran to disable air defenses, smuggle advanced munitions, and establish drone bases ahead of waves of Israeli jets.
Covert Planning and Infiltration
Israel’s Operation Rising Lion was months in the making, involving detailed intelligence gathering and logistical preparation by Mossad operatives. Agents covertly crossed into Iran using false identities, carrying precision-guided munitions concealed in commercial shipments and diplomatic cargo. A secret drone base was established on Iran’s eastern border, enabling real-time reconnaissance of missile launchers aimed at Israel. Commandos also sabotaged key air-defense radars near Tehran, ensuring the low-flying waves of Israeli aircraft could strike with minimal early warning.
Targeting Iran’s Nuclear Infrastructure: Operation Rising Lion
The operation focused on Iran’s principal uranium enrichment sites at Natanz and Fordow, where black smoke and fires were reported hours after the first strikes. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) deployed over 200 aircraft in five waves, dropping more than 330 munitions on roughly 100 targets across Tehran and central Iran. These aerial assaults aimed to degrade Iran’s ability to produce weapons-grade uranium and destroy underground centrifuge halls. By striking both above-ground facilities and tunnel entrances, Operation Rising Lion sought to significantly slow Iran’s nuclear program.
Key Casualties and Tactical Impact
High-profile Iranian figures were killed in the operation, including Major General Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces. General Gholamali Rashid and at least six leading nuclear scientists—among them Fereydoon Abbasi and Mohammad Mahdi Tehranchi—also perished in the strikes. Experts say these losses mark a severe blow to Iran’s military leadership and nuclear know-how, though Tehran’s program is deeply entrenched. IDF insiders describe the operation as the first phase of a broader campaign to decapitate Iran’s strategic command and deter further nuclear advances.
Iran’s Response and Regional Implications
In retaliation, Iran launched over 100 drones and ballistic missiles toward Israeli territory later on June 13, prompting air-raid sirens across southern Israel and a brief closure of Ben Gurion Airport. While most incoming threats were intercepted by Iron Dome batteries, several drones caused minor damage in border communities. Regional powers watched closely, with Gulf states issuing cautious statements calling for de-escalation, fearing a wider Middle East conflagration. Analysts warn that the Israel Iran conflict may intensify as both sides regroup for possible next moves.
U.S. Reaction and Next Steps
The United States officially distanced itself from the attack, with President Trump praising Israel’s right to self-defense but clarifying no U.S. forces participated. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned Iran against further retaliation, urging a return to nuclear negotiations under strict international oversight. U.S. military assets in the region were put on heightened alert as a precautionary measure. Diplomatic backchannels are reportedly active, aiming to prevent full-scale war while assessing damage to Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
