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On the morning of June 13, 2025, the world awoke to news of a seismic shift in the Middle East: Israel had launched "Operation Rising Lion," a meticulously planned assault on Iran’s nuclear facilities and military infrastructure. This unprecedented attack wasn’t just a display of military might—it was a triumph of intelligence and espionage, showcasing Israel’s ability to penetrate and dismantle one of the region’s most fortified defense systems. Drawing parallels to a high-stakes chess game, Israel’s moves were calculated, precise, and years in the making, leaving Iran scrambling to respond. Here’s how Israel pulled off this audacious operation, blending cutting-edge technology, covert operations, and sheer strategic brilliance.
The Opening Gambit: Years of Covert Preparation
Israel’s strike was no spur-of-the-moment decision. According to Israeli intelligence and military officials, the operation was the culmination of at least three years of clandestine groundwork. The Mossad, Israel’s legendary spy agency, worked hand-in-glove with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to map out Iran’s vulnerabilities. Much like a master thief casing a bank vault, Israel’s intelligence operatives gathered critical data on Iran’s air defenses, missile systems, and nuclear sites. This wasn’t a new tactic—Israel has a storied history of espionage against Iran, including the 2018 theft of an archive of Iranian nuclear research, which exposed Tehran’s nuclear ambitions to the world.
The operation drew on lessons from a previous Israeli airstrike in October 2024, which revealed significant weaknesses in Iran’s air defense network. Armed with this knowledge, Israel didn’t just aim to strike—it aimed to paralyze. The Mossad reportedly infiltrated Iranian territory, setting up a secret drone base deep inside the country. This base, a modern-day Trojan horse, allowed Israel to launch explosive drones from within Iran’s borders, targeting ballistic missile launchers and air defense systems with surgical precision. It’s a tactic reminiscent of Cold War-era espionage, where covert operatives would embed themselves in enemy territory to sabotage critical infrastructure.
Checkmate in the Skies: Dismantling Iran’s Defenses
When the first wave of Israeli F-35 stealth jets screamed into Iranian airspace on June 13, they faced a significantly weakened adversary. Guided by real-time intelligence and artificial intelligence (AI), Israel unleashed a nighttime barrage of warplanes and smuggled drones that obliterated Iran’s air defense radar installations and surface-to-air missile batteries. The use of AI to coordinate strikes is a game-changer, akin to how modern cyberattacks can cripple digital infrastructure with pinpoint accuracy. By targeting air defenses first, Israel gained near-total control of Iran’s skies, a feat the IDF boasted about days later, claiming it could now fly over Tehran “without facing major resistance.”
The operation’s audacity didn’t stop there. Mossad commando units had pre-positioned precision-guided weapons near Iranian missile installations, which activated just before the airstrikes to maximize chaos. This one-two punch—covert sabotage followed by aerial bombardment—left Iran’s military leadership reeling. Senior commanders, including the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Intelligence Organization, Mohammad Kazemi, and three other top officials, were killed in pinpoint strikes. It’s a page out of Israel’s playbook from past operations, like the 2024 assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a Tehran guesthouse, where a bomb was planted with chilling precision.
Striking the Heart of Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions
Israel’s primary target was Iran’s nuclear program, particularly the Natanz uranium enrichment site, a linchpin in Tehran’s quest for nuclear weapons. The IDF claimed it damaged underground structures, including a multistorey enrichment hall, electrical rooms, and supporting infrastructure. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the strikes had set Iran’s nuclear program back “by a very long time.” This wasn’t just about destruction—it was about sending a message. Israel’s intelligence had uncovered Iran’s resumption of its “weapons group” activity, signaling an imminent nuclear threat. Acting with the green light from U.S. President Donald Trump, Israel seized the moment to cripple Iran’s ambitions before they could cross the nuclear threshold.
The parallels to historical preemptive strikes are striking. In 1981, Israel’s Operation Opera destroyed Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor, a move that reshaped the Middle East’s power dynamics. Similarly, Operation Rising Lion aimed to delay Iran’s nuclear capabilities, buying time for diplomacy or further action. But unlike 1981, this operation leaned heavily on advanced technology and espionage, showcasing how modern warfare blends brains with brawn.
Iran’s Response: A Desperate Counterattack
Iran’s retaliation was swift but faltered against Israel’s superior defenses. Tehran launched hundreds of missiles, some breaching Israel’s Iron Dome system, hitting targets like the Mossad headquarters near Tel Aviv and a Haifa oil refinery, killing at least 24 people. Yet, Iran’s response was hampered by the devastation of its air defenses and missile launchers—Israel claimed to have destroyed one-third of Iran’s missile launchers in the initial strikes. Iranian officials privately fumed over their intelligence and defense failures, with one official lamenting, “How can Israel come and attack anything it wants, kill our top commanders, and we are incapable of stopping it?”
The chaos in Tehran was palpable. Iranian state TV was knocked off air during a live broadcast, and residents reported hearing drones and explosions across the capital. Iran’s attempt to project strength, including claims of acquiring classified Israeli nuclear documents, fell flat against the reality of its crippled defenses. It’s a stark contrast to Israel’s disciplined, intelligence-driven approach, which left Iran playing catch-up in a war it was unprepared to fight.
The Bigger Picture: A Region on Edge
Operation Rising Lion wasn’t just a military victory—it was a psychological and strategic blow to Iran’s regime. By targeting nuclear sites, military leadership, and even state media, Israel exposed Tehran’s vulnerabilities while asserting its own dominance. The operation’s success relied on a fusion of espionage, technology, and military precision, drawing parallels to how the U.S. used intelligence to track down Osama bin Laden in 2011. But the stakes here are higher, with the Middle East teetering on the edge of a broader conflict. The Pentagon has deployed additional assets to the region, signaling U.S. support for Israel while bracing for escalation.
Yet, questions remain about Israel’s endgame. While the strikes have delayed Iran’s nuclear program, they’ve also inflamed tensions, with Iran vowing a “bitter and painful” response. Some analysts warn that Israel’s actions could galvanize Iranian national solidarity, much like the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 rallied support for Saddam Hussein in the war’s early days. Others argue that Israel’s intelligence superiority and preemptive strike may have reset the regional power balance, at least for now.
Conclusion: A New Chapter in a Long Rivalry
Israel’s first attack on Iran in June 2025 will be remembered as a masterclass in modern warfare, where espionage and intelligence were as critical as missiles and jets. By infiltrating Iran’s defenses, smuggling drones, and leveraging AI, Israel turned Iran’s strengths into liabilities overnight. The operation’s success underscores a timeless truth: in the high-stakes game of geopolitics, information is power. As the dust settles over Tehran and Tel Aviv, the world watches to see whether this bold move will lead to peace, escalation, or something entirely unpredictable.