Last night, Israel launched a audacious series of airstrikes against Iran, code-named Operation Rising Lion, targeting nuclear facilities. Among the targets were the Natanz enrichment facility, ballistic missile sites and senior military officials. The operation, meticulously planned by the Israel Defence Forces and the Mossad – Israel’s intelligence agency – marks a significant escalation in the shadow war between the two nations, driven by Israel’s deep-seated concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its avowed intent to annihilate the Jewish state. This strike is not a one-off, but the opening salvo in a sustained campaign aimed at neutralising Iran’s military capabilities and, ultimately, destabilising its regime.
Iran’s nuclear program is an existential threat to Israel. The Islamic Republic has long enriched uranium to near weapons-grade levels, amassing enough fissile material for multiple warheads, according to Israeli intelligence. Iran’s leadership, from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to former presidents like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has repeatedly called for Israel’s destruction, labelling it a ‘cancerous tumour’ destined for annihilation. It even placed a ‘doomsday clock’ in Tehran, counting the time until Israel’s destruction.
This rhetoric, combined with Iran’s obstruction of international inspectors and its advancing ballistic missile program, has convinced Israel that a nuclear-armed Iran is not a distant hypothetical but an imminent danger.
According to Israeli media, Mossad has spent years preparing for the strike. It involved covert operations to smuggle drones and precision-guided munitions into Iran, ensuring a devastating surprise attack. Last night, commando units from Mossad carried out the first strike, disabling Iranian defence systems and paving the way for the Israeli Air Force to attack. Mossad’s deep infiltration into Iranian territory is reminiscent of Israel’s attack against Hezbollah, which saw the powerful terrorist organisation brought to its knees in a matter of days.
The timing of the strike is tied to the faltering US-Iran nuclear negotiations. Israel fears that a weak deal, allowing Iran to retain enrichment capabilities, would embolden Tehran. With Iran weakened by sanctions, the collapse of proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas, and recent Israeli strikes on its air defences, Jerusalem saw a rare window of opportunity. Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech last night emphasised that Israel acted preemptively because Iran was in the process of weaponising its uranium, potentially producing a bomb within months.
Netanyahu’s address underscored the goal of dismantling Iran’s long-range missile arsenal, which poses a direct threat to Israel’s population centres. Strikingly, he also expressed hope that these actions would create the conditions for a popular uprising to topple the theocratic regime. ‘I have no doubt that your day of liberation from this tyranny is closer than ever,’ he said, addressing Iranians directly and envisioning a future of peace between the two nations.
Unlike previous operations, then, Israel’s aims appear to extend beyond crippling Iran’s nuclear programme. This time, Israel hopes for regime change that could guarantee long-term security.
The US, while objecting to the timing of the strike, remains a reluctant partner. Donald Trump, pursuing a nuclear deal with Iran, expressed frustration, stating he ‘preferred an agreement’ but acknowledged Israel’s right to self-defence. Israel still needs its American partner, both for offensive purposes – the US has bunker penetrating abilities that Israel lacks – and for defensive ones. Iran has retaliated with drones, all of which were shot down, but future, more significant attacks, will require assistance from Israel’s allies. This means that Washington could be dragged deeper into a conflict it wanted to avoid.
This war is far from over. By decapitating Iran’s military and nuclear leadership and degrading its military infrastructure, Israel hopes to weaken the regime’s grip, fostering internal unrest. Israel’s long-term vision is a Middle East where Iran no longer threatens its existence, either through regime change or a severely diminished military capacity.
For Israel, the stakes could not be higher. A prolonged war could alienate Jerusalem even more than it is now, but inaction in the face of an existential threat is not an option. Keir Starmer voiced concern over the strike, calling for tensions to be reduced and hoping for stability in the Middle East. If stability is a priority, this cannot be achieved by allowing Iran to have nuclear weapons that will trigger a regional arms race and an escalation in instability and violence. For years, Iran has defied attempts to stop its nuclear programme by diplomatic means and posed a national security threat to the UK. Israel’s allies must stand firmly by its side and support actions that will enable lasting security and stability.
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