Israel has launched a multi-pronged attack on Iran’s energy and defence infrastructure, including the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Tehran and sites tied to its nuclear weapons programme. The operation, named “Rising Lion”, unleashed some 200 fighter jets striking over 100 strategic targets—among them Natanz uranium enrichment facilities, key missile launchers and an oil depot near Shahran—resulting in extensive damage and significant casualties in Iran.
Iran retaliated swiftly, dispatching more than 100 ballistic missiles and drones into Israeli airspace. Major cities including Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem came under attack, with at least eight Israeli civilians killed and over 200 injured; several residential buildings were struck. Israeli officials confirmed U.S. assistance in intercepting incoming munitions, while clarifying the United States was not involved in the offensive.
The Israeli military asserts that the strikes targeted both energy infrastructure and nuclear sites, including the Bushehr plant and the SPND nuclear project headquarters. The IAEA confirmed no abnormal radiation levels at Natanz or Bushehr.
High-ranking Iranian officials have been killed, including IRGC commander Hossein Salami, Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri and senior nuclear scientists such as Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi. These targeted killings were praised by Israel as a necessary response to what PM Netanyahu described as an “existential threat” posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
This escalation has had immediate geopolitical and economic repercussions. Oil prices surged over 7%, stock markets faltered, and several international airlines rerouted flights away from Iranian and surrounding airspace. Global powers including France, Australia and the UN have urged restraint, warning the situation could derail ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the U.S..
Diplomatic efforts are in jeopardy. Planned talks in Oman have been cancelled, and Tehran has accused the United States of complicity, escalating tensions with Washington even though U.S. officials maintain they were informed but not participants.
Analysts suggest the operation represents a significant strategic shift. Israel has adopted a more aggressive posture than in past encounters—characterised by deep target penetration, high-value eliminations, and the use of covert Mossad installations inside Iran. The presence of clandestine drone bases within Iranian territory and sabotage of air defences prior to the strikes serves as evidence of this heightened capability.
The outlook remains uncertain. Iran has publicly vowed “severe punishment” and may escalate in phases via ballistic missiles, drones and its regional proxies such as Hezbollah and the Houthis. Meanwhile, Gulf nations have expressed concern over broader conflict, with some warning of dire regional consequences.
Despite the ferocity of the confrontation, the IAEA confirms that no nuclear materials were released or compromised, while global pressure for a diplomatic resolution grows. The coming days will determine whether this escalation triggers a protracted conflict or a recalibrated push for diplomacy by global stakeholders.
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