Israel strikes Iran, eliminates top generals, hits nuclear sites in “Operation Rising Lion”

In a dramatic and unprecedented escalation, Israel has launched a powerful wave of airstrikes on Iranian soil, targeting key military installations, nuclear facilities, and top Iranian military figures in what it has dubbed Operation Rising Lion.

The coordinated assault, which began around 3 a.m. local time on Friday, involved dozens of Israeli warplanes striking strategic locations across Tehran, Isfahan, and Arak.

Israeli officials describe the operation as a critical move to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Targets included missile development centers, nuclear enrichment facilities, air defense systems, and command headquarters.

Among the most devastating blows was the destruction of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters and the elimination of some of Iran’s most powerful military leaders.

Confirmed Fatalities Include:

Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s Chief of Staff and key architect of the ballistic missile program

Gen. Hossein Salami, IRGC Commander-in-Chief

Maj. Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya military complex

Dr. Fereydoon Abbasi and Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, both senior nuclear scientists

Iranian state media acknowledged widespread devastation and confirmed the activation of nationwide air defenses.

Civil aviation was halted, and flights were suspended at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport. Emergency protocols are in place across the nation.

In a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the operation, stating:

“Iran was just months away from building a nuclear weapon. We had no choice. This is not about regime change—it’s about survival. ‘Never Again’ is now.”

Netanyahu cited intelligence suggesting Iran had enriched enough uranium for nine nuclear warheads and was moving quickly toward weaponization.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), led by Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, confirmed the operation’s dual aim: dismantling Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and eliminating the architects behind it.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has declared a state of “special emergency” nationwide, suspending schools and public events in anticipation of Iranian retaliation through drones and missiles.

The strikes mark a severe turning point in Middle Eastern tensions. Analysts fear this could ignite a broader conflict, with Tehran vowing vengeance and combat jets already reported clashing in Iranian airspace.

Eyewitness accounts from Tehran describe terrifying scenes of fireballs, massive explosions, and billowing smoke engulfing the skyline.

The full extent of the casualties and infrastructure damage remains under assessment.