Israeli Chief of Staff: We are striking the Iranian nuclear program infrastructure with precision

Israeli Chief of Staff: We are striking the Iranian nuclear program infrastructure with precision

Israel's Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi, announced on June 15, 2025, that the country has launched a series of precision strikes against Iran's nuclear program infrastructure. The operation, dubbed "Rising Lion," aims to neutralize Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons and mitigate the risk of regional escalation.

On June 13, 2025, Israel struck multiple targets in Iran, including the Natanz nuclear facility, which was partially destroyed. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the attack resulted in radioactive and chemical contamination at the site [2]. The IAEA reported that while external radiation levels remained unchanged, internal contamination was detected, posing potential risks to personnel [2].

The Israeli military confirmed that the strikes targeted Iran's military and nuclear infrastructure, including missile factories and nuclear scientists. The operation involved a combination of air strikes and covert operations by Mossad commandos, who infiltrated Iran to destroy weapons systems and reduce the threat to Israeli warplanes [4].

The decision to strike was made on Monday, June 9, 2025, following a phone conversation between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump. The Israeli security cabinet gave the final green light for the operation on Thursday night [4].

In response to the strikes, Iran has vowed to retaliate with "harsh punishment." However, Israel intercepted many of the 100 drones launched towards Israeli territory in retaliation [4].

The Israeli strikes have dealt a significant blow to Iran's nuclear program. The Times of Israel reported that the attacks destroyed part of a plant that was enriching uranium to levels far beyond civilian requirements, potentially setting Iran's nuclear ambitions back by months or years [5]. The IAEA has warned that Iran has enough enriched uranium to make several nuclear bombs if it chooses to do so [5].

The operation has sent oil prices sharply higher due to fears of regional escalation. However, the Israeli military source indicated that the operation was not over, and there could be "difficult days" ahead [4].

References:
[1] https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Middle-East-crisis/Israel-says-has-struck-Iranian-nuclear-targets-braces-for-retaliation
[2] https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/3441844/israeli-strike-iranian-nuclear-facility-radioactive-chemical-contamination-international-atomic-energy-agency/
[3] https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/world/article/alert-israeli-military-official-confirms-attack-20375045.php
[4] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-used-long-planned-subterfuge-attack-iranian-nuclear-targets-israeli-2025-06-13/
[5] https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-strikes-on-irans-nuclear-program-are-sweeping-but-can-they-decimate-it/