Tehran/Jerusalem, June 13, 2025 —
In a significant military escalation, Israel conducted a series of airstrikes early Friday targeting Iran’s key nuclear and military infrastructure under Operation Rising Lion. The strikes hit multiple sensitive locations, including the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, intensifying fears of a regional conflict.
Plumes of smoke were seen over the Natanz site in central Iran, following what appeared to be a coordinated wave of precision attacks by Israeli fighter jets.
Top Iranian Military Figure Killed
Iranian media confirmed the death of Major General Hossein Salami, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), calling it an assassination by Israeli forces. Authorities also reported the deaths of another senior officer and two nuclear experts. A nationwide period of mourning has been declared by Tehran.
Salami was considered a key figure in directing Iran’s military influence across the region, particularly in conflict zones such as Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon.
Main Nuclear Sites Hit
The Natanz facility, located in Isfahan province, was the main target. Home to thousands of centrifuges, Natanz is critical to Iran’s uranium enrichment program. Although most of its key operations are housed underground, fires were reported near above-ground installations, raising concerns about potential operational disruptions.
Other major sites possibly impacted or placed on high alert include:
- Fordow Enrichment Site, located near Qom and protected deep within a mountain, is equipped with advanced centrifuges capable of enriching uranium to high levels.
- Isfahan Uranium Conversion Facility, which processes yellowcake into gaseous uranium for enrichment, plays a key role in Iran’s nuclear fuel cycle.
- Khondab Reactor, once part of a weapons-grade plutonium path, remains a strategic concern despite past redesigns.
- Tehran Research Reactor, used for medical and scientific purposes, has been subject to increasing international scrutiny due to domestic fuel production.
- Bushehr Power Plant, Iran’s only civilian nuclear power facility, was not targeted but has been placed under reinforced security.
Tehran Residents Wake to Explosions
Explosions were heard in parts of western Tehran, particularly in the Chitgar area, triggering panic. Though no nuclear facilities are known to exist there, the sound of air sirens and distant blasts led to heightened alarm among civilians.
In response, Iran shut down its airspace, and Israel followed suit, enforcing an air traffic lockdown and placing its defense forces on full alert.
Official Statement from Israel
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz acknowledged the operation, stating it was aimed at neutralizing potential threats. “We anticipate a response involving missiles and drones targeting our civilian population in the hours ahead,” he said, warning of possible retaliation.
Iran’s Nuclear Capability Under Global Lens
Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium has grown steadily over recent years. According to international observers, the time needed for Tehran to produce weapons-grade material has dropped to just a few weeks. Under the now-weakened 2015 nuclear accord, that timeframe had once exceeded a year.
Iran maintains that its atomic program is purely civilian in nature, but increasing levels of enrichment and the installation of more advanced centrifuges have raised red flags in Western capitals.
Global Concerns Grow
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not yet issued a statement, though diplomatic sources suggest consultations are underway among world powers. Analysts fear that the airstrikes could trigger a broader military confrontation involving Iran’s regional allies.
The full implications of Operation Rising Lion are still unfolding, but the scale and directness of the strikes mark a sharp shift in Israel’s posture, moving from covert sabotage to overt military engagement.
