In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, Israel launched a wide-ranging military operation against Iran early Friday morning, striking key nuclear facilities, military installations, and senior leadership targets. The assault, dubbed Operation Rising Lion by the Israeli government, has reportedly killed six prominent Iranian nuclear scientists and several high-ranking military officials.
The semi-official Iranian Tasnim news agency confirmed the deaths of six nuclear experts: Abdulhamid Minouchehr, Ahmadreza Zolfaghari, Seyyed Amirhossein Faqhi, an individual identified only by the surname Motablizadeh, Mohammed Mehdi Tehranchi, and Fereydoun Abbasi.
Abdulhamid Minouchehr was responsible for overseeing enrichment logistics and operations at a critical nuclear facility. Ahmadreza Zolfaghari, a nuclear physicist, contributed significantly to Iran’s uranium processing and enrichment efforts. Seyyed Amirhossein Faqhi was said to be involved in highly sensitive work, including centrifuge calibration and classified enrichment projects.
Motablizadeh, known only by his last name, was a nuclear specialist believed to be involved in laboratory research or quality assurance. Mohammed Mehdi Tehranchi, a physicist and the president of Islamic Azad University, was instrumental in advancing nuclear education in Iran. Fereydoun Abbasi, a key architect of Iran’s nuclear programme over the last two decades and a former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, also died in the strike. Abbasi survived an assassination attempt in 2010 and was previously sanctioned by the United Nations over alleged ties to clandestine nuclear weapons development.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Chief Commander, Major General Hossein Salami, was also reported assassinated in the attacks. State media confirmed that the IRGC’s headquarters in Tehran had been hit, and several civilians, including children, were killed when a residential area in the capital was struck.
“We are at a decisive moment in Israel’s history,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a recorded address. “Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called the attack “wicked and bloody” and vowed retribution. “Israel has unleashed its wicked and bloody hand in a crime against Iran,” he said in a statement. “It will receive a bitter fate for itself.”
An Israeli military official said dozens of targets were hit, including the key uranium enrichment facility at Natanz. The official claimed that Iran had accumulated enough fissile material to build 15 nuclear bombs within days.
The semi-official Tasnim agency condemned the attack, accusing Israel of waging a covert war against Iranian scientists and attempting to “undermine Iran’s scientific and technological progress” through “acts of terror.”
Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv was closed until further notice, and Israel placed its air defense systems on high alert amid concerns over Iranian retaliation. Explosions were reported by Iranian state media and witnesses near key infrastructure sites.
The United States denied any involvement in the operation, but Iranian officials accused Washington of providing logistical and intelligence support. A spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces warned that both Israel and the U.S. would “pay a heavy price” for their roles.
President Donald Trump convened a National Security Council meeting Friday morning to assess the situation. While Trump praised Israel’s actions, U.S. officials maintained that the operation was carried out unilaterally.
The attacks have sparked fears of a broader regional conflict and drawn condemnation from several international actors. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced it would convene an emergency meeting and confirmed damage to Natanz, though it reported no increase in radiation levels.
As both nations brace for possible further escalation, the world watches anxiously amid fears of a new and dangerous phase in the longstanding conflict between Israel and Iran.
Read More: Five Cities in Pakistan Among Top 15 Hottest Places on Earth
