West Asia On The Brink: What Did Israel Achieve Through Its Strikes On Iran, What Did It Risk?

Last Updated:June 13, 2025, 17:07 IST

Israel- Iran Conflict: The strikes, dubbed Operation Rising Lion by Israel, killed several high-ranking Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists.

Israel- Iran Conflict: Iranian state media said that residential areas in Tehran were hit, with reports of civilian deaths. 

Tensions between Israel and Iran reached a dangerous new peak after Tel Aviv launched a large-scale military offensive targeting what it called the “heart" of Iran’s nuclear programme. The strikes, dubbed Operation Rising Lion by Israel, killed several high-ranking Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists following which Iran retaliated by launching approximately 100 drones toward Israeli territory.

Iranian state media claimed the strikes resulted in significant civilian casualties, including women and children while the Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressed deep concern, warning of the grave consequences of targeting nuclear sites.

Israel-Iran Conflict: Here’s A Look At What Has Happened So Far:

1. In the early hours of Friday, Israel launched a sweeping air campaign across Iran, targeting over 100 military and nuclear-related sites, including the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility.

2. Iranian state media confirmed the deaths of several senior figures, including Hossein Salami, chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Mohammad Bagheri, the armed forces’ chief of staff. Israel claims it “eliminated" key figures leading Iran’s nuclear and military command.

3. IRGC-linked outlet Tasnim News reported six nuclear scientists were killed, including former Atomic Energy Organization head Fereydoon Abbasi and multiple professors from Shahid Beheshti University.

4. Iranian state media said that residential areas in Tehran were hit, with reports of civilian deaths.

5. Following the Israeli strikes, Iran launched around 100 drones toward Israel. The IDF said it intercepted many of them. Air raid sirens and emergency alerts were activated across Israeli cities.

6. Explosions were confirmed at Natanz, Iran’s key uranium enrichment plant. While the IAEA reported no increase in radiation levels, Director General Rafael Grossi warned of “serious implications" for global nuclear safety and urged both sides to show restraint.

7. US President Donald Trump said Iran was warned repeatedly but failed to reach a deal. In a statement, he said, “They are all DEAD now" as he urged Iran to “make a deal before there is nothing left."

8. Washington has officially denied participating in the Israeli offensive as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the US provided no support and that its priority is to protect American troops in the region.

9. Countries including the UK, France, China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have expressed concern and called for restraint. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned both nations against descending into deeper conflict.

10. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation was a preemptive strike to counter Iran’s alleged near-readiness to build nuclear weapons. Talks between the US and Iran over reviving the nuclear deal had recently stalled, and Israeli intelligence assessed Iran could produce a bomb “within days."

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