Israel Strikes Iran, Hits Generals and Missile Sites
Israel Launches Devastating Airstrikes on Iran, Targets Nuclear Facilities and Military Commanders
In an unprecedented and sweeping military campaign, Israel has launched a series of powerful airstrikes deep inside Iranian territory, targeting nuclear infrastructure, missile development sites, and senior military leadership.
The operation—code-named Operation Rising Lion—was launched early Friday morning and marks one of the most direct and aggressive military actions ever taken by Israel against the Islamic Republic.
According to Israeli military sources, the pre-dawn offensive involved dozens of fighter jets and precision-guided munitions aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear weapons program and long-range missile capabilities.
Explosions were reported in multiple cities including Tehran, Isfahan, and Arak—home to key nuclear and military installations.
Targets and Destruction
The strikes focused on high-value assets: uranium enrichment sites, missile production facilities, air defense systems, and military command centers.
Iranian state media confirmed the activation of nationwide air defenses and the grounding of all flights from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport.
Authorities cleared the country’s airspace and reported damage to key infrastructure, fires, and multiple casualties.
Among the most significant losses for Iran were several top-ranking officials:
- Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s Chief of Staff and a leading architect of its ballistic missile program
- Gen. Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
- Maj. Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, commander of the elite Khatam al-Anbiya military base
- Dr. Fereydoon Abbasi and Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, two prominent nuclear scientists
The deaths of these figures represent a severe blow to Iran’s strategic and scientific leadership, dealing a setback to both its military influence and its nuclear ambitions.
Netanyahu: “Never Again Is Now”
In a nationally televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strikes as essential to Israel’s survival.
He accused Iran of preparing an arsenal of ballistic missiles capable of mass destruction—and warned of even more catastrophic consequences should Tehran acquire nuclear warheads.
“Iran already has enough enriched uranium for nine nuclear bombs,” Netanyahu stated. “This operation is about preemption—about protecting future generations from a nuclear holocaust. We refuse to wait until it’s too late.”
Quoting Holocaust-era warnings, Netanyahu added:
“When an enemy tells you he plans to destroy you—believe him. And when he nears that capability, stop him. ‘Never Again’ is not a slogan. It is a duty.”
IDF: Operation May Last Days
Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), confirmed that the mission’s objective is to cripple Iran’s nuclear development and disrupt the operational chain of command behind it.
“Iran has brought us to a moment of reckoning,” Defrin said. “Israel will act wherever necessary, for as long as it takes, to eliminate this existential threat.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz declared a nationwide “special emergency,” closing schools, restricting public gatherings, and activating missile defense systems in anticipation of a likely Iranian response.
Tehran Vows Retaliation
Iran has promised a “severe and devastating” retaliation. Air-to-air combat reportedly broke out over Iranian skies, as Iranian jets scrambled to confront Israeli warplanes.
Eyewitness accounts from Tehran describe multiple explosions, fireballs lighting up the night, and smoke billowing from government and military compounds.
Iranian officials have begun drafting retaliatory plans, with regional intelligence suggesting the possible use of drones, missiles, and cyberattacks against Israeli cities and U.S. bases in the Middle East.
Regional Fallout and Global Reactions
The international community is closely monitoring the situation, fearing a broader Middle East war. Analysts warn that this conflict could rapidly expand, drawing in Hezbollah, U.S. assets, and other regional powers.
While Israeli officials insist the mission is not a push for regime change in Iran, the scale and precision of the attacks suggest a strategic attempt to decapitate Iran’s military leadership and derail its nuclear capabilities for years to come.
With both nations now on high alert and the world watching, the region teeters on the edge of an all-out war—one that could reshape the balance of power in the Middle East for a generation.
Israel Strikes Iran, Hits Generals and Missile Sites