Early Friday morning (June 13, 2025), Israel unleashed “Operation Rising Lion,” a wave of pre‑emptive airstrikes across Iran—targeting nuclear enrichment facilities in Natanz, Khondab and Khorramabad, plus military command centers in Tehran and elsewhere. Israeli Defense Forces confirmed “dozens” of strikes, shutting down air defense nodes and ballistic-missile infrastructure, preparing for a potential multi‑day campaign.
The devastation was not limited to physical infrastructure. Iranian state media, backed by the IRGC, reported the deaths of high-level figures: Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, commander‑in‑chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; Maj. Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid; and Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri—all killed in strikes across Tehran. Two prominent nuclear scientists, Fereydoun Abbasi‑Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, were also listed among the casualties.
Hossein Salami, 65, had led the IRGC since 2019 and was known for his hardline, anti‑Israel rhetoric, overseeing the expansion of Iran’s missile arsenal and proxy networks. Western analysts considered his death “a significant blow” to Iran’s military structure and its nuclear‑diplomacy posture.
The precision of his targeting signaled a calculated Israeli objective: decapitating Iran’s nuclear and military leadership.
- International reaction split sharply. The U.S. explicitly disavowed military involvement, while acknowledging Israel informed them of self-defense rationale. Some U.S. lawmakers voiced support—“pray for Israel”—while others warned of reckless escalation. China urged citizens in Iran to stay alert; Iraq closed its airspace; the UN Secretary‑General called for restraint. Oil markets reacted, and regional tensions skyrocketed.
- Tehran is vowing swift, severe retaliation. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has warned Israel to brace for a “bitter and painful fate.” Iran has invoked its legal right to respond under the UN Charter, and the IRGC vows readiness despite its commander’s death. Israel, meanwhile, mobilizes ground forces and readies citizens for a protracted threat landscape.
🔗 Sources For Continued Coverage
Major Sources:
- AP News: Confirms Salami’s death and his IRGC legacy APnews.com
- Time: Details Operation Rising Lion framework and high‑level casualties Time.com
- Reuters: Notes targeted strikes on nuclear scientists and sabotage operations Reuters.com
Ping‑Backs (anchors for further reporting):
- For updates on Iran’s military response and regional fallout, see ongoing coverage at The Guardian Live Blog Washington Post
