Following Israel’s initial strikes against Iran, Israeli intelligence operatives launched a covert campaign to intimidate senior Iranian officials. Utilizing Persian-speaking agents, they made phone calls threatening officials with death if they continued supporting the regime. The Washington Post obtained an audio recording of one such call, where an operative gave a general a deadline to disassociate himself from the Iranian government. This campaign, part of the larger operation “Rising Lion,” aimed to destabilize the regime and sow fear among its leadership. The ultimate goal of the campaign was to make it difficult for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to replace those eliminated in the Israeli attacks.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed Iran plotted to assassinate former US President Donald Trump, citing Trump’s strong stance against Iran’s nuclear ambitions as the motive. Netanyahu credited Trump with dismantling the Iran nuclear deal and killing Qasem Soleimani, framing their joint efforts as a necessary response to Iran’s “dual existential threat” of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. He asserted that Israel’s recent military operation, Operation Rising Lion, significantly hampered Iran’s nuclear program and that Israel will continue to defend itself and the world from this threat. Netanyahu also disclosed that he himself was a target of an Iranian attack.
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Following a series of Israeli airstrikes, the IDF declared “full aerial superiority” over Tehran, targeting over 20 Iranian military and Quds Force headquarters. These attacks, part of Operation Rising Lion, destroyed a third of Iran’s missile launchers and struck key Iranian nuclear sites and infrastructure. The escalation prompted retaliatory Iranian missile strikes on Israel, resulting in civilian casualties on both sides. Israel maintains its operation will continue until the perceived Iranian military threat is neutralized.
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Operation Rising Lion, a wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting Tehran, culminated in a significant strike eliminating key Iranian figures. The attack killed Mohammad Kazemi, head of the IRGC’s intelligence directorate, and his deputy, Mohammad Hassan Mohaqiq. This represents a major blow to Iran’s internal security infrastructure. Dozens of targets across Tehran were hit during this operation, marking one of the most impactful actions against Iran’s security apparatus to date.
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In a significant escalation, the Israeli Air Force conducted a long-range strike on an Iranian refueling aircraft at Mashhad Airport, a distance of roughly 2,300 kilometers from Israel. This operation, part of Operation Rising Lion, represents the IDF’s furthest strike to date. The attack targeted Iranian military assets, demonstrating Israel’s extended reach and capabilities. The incident signals a heightened level of tension between Israel and Iran.
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Israel launched a large-scale air strike on Iran, targeting its main underground nuclear facility and killing top military commanders and nuclear scientists. This attack, dubbed “Operation Rising Lion” by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, prompted Iran to launch hundreds of ballistic missiles in retaliation, resulting in explosions across Tehran and other cities. The attack, the largest between the two countries, has raised international concerns, with President Trump suggesting that further conflict could be avoided through renewed nuclear talks. Casualty numbers are high on both sides, and the extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear program remains unclear.
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John Q. Hosedrinker