The Israeli Defence forces carried out strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities on the intervening night of June 12-13. Israel launched a targeted military operations, “Operation Rising Lion”. An IDF spokesperson said they cannot allow the Iranian regime to obtain a nuclear weapon that would be a danger to Israel and the entire world.
IDF Spokesperson BG Effie Defrin said, “This morning, the IDF began preemptive and precise strikes targeting the Iranian nuclear programme in order to prevent the Iranian regime’s ability to build a nuclear bomb. In the immediate time frame, we have no choice. We Are operating against the imminent and existential threat. We cannot allow the Iranian regime to obtain a nuclear weapon that would be a danger to Israel and the entire world. This operation is our right to existence for our future and our children’s future. The state of Israel has the right and obligation in order to protect its people.”
A statement from IDF Spokesperson BG Effie Defrin on the preemptive Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear targets pic.twitter.com/IJNT5LXz6o
---Advertisement---— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 13, 2025
‘We hit the select scientists’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “After a very successful opening strike, we hit the senior command, we hit the select scientists who are advancing the development of atomic bombs, we hit the nuclear facilities. We are making great achievements, but I also know, and you know, there are no free wars. Therefore, I ask you again to listen carefully to the orders of the senior command, and it is very likely that you will be required to spend a long time, much longer than we have been used to so far, in the protected areas.”
Netanyahu urged the public to remain vigilant, saying, “Of course, you will patrol, and I am sure you will do so, in uniforms, suits, clothes and so on, but the most important thing is to patrol with a clear mind, with faith in the righteousness of our path, in the security of our victory.”
Moments ago, Israel launched Operation “Rising Lion”, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival.
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) June 13, 2025
This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.
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Statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: pic.twitter.com/XgUTy90g1S
The Israeli Prime Minister announced the launch of a large-scale military campaign, Operation Rising Lion, aimed at dismantling what he described as an existential threat posed by Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
‘This is an intolerable threat’
Netanyahu highlighted the growing threat posed by Iran’s ballistic missiles, recalling that last year, Iran fired 300 ballistic missiles at Israel. “Each of these missiles carries a tonne of explosives and threatens the lives of hundreds of people. Soon, those missiles could carry a nuclear payload, threatening the lives not of hundreds, but of millions. Iran is gearing up to produce 10,000 of those ballistic missiles within three years. Now just imagine, imagine 10,000 tonnes of TNT landing on a country the size of New Jersey. This is an intolerable threat. It must be stopped.”
‘Soldiers of Israel rose like lions’
He accused Iran of surrounding Israel with regional proxies and launching direct attacks, including the October 7 incident. “But the people of Israel, the soldiers of Israel rose like lions to defend our country. We crushed Hamas. We devastated Hezbollah. We hit Iranian proxies in Syria and Yemen. And when Iran directly attacked us twice last year, we struck back inside Iran itself. Yet in defending ourselves, we also defend others.”
