Destruction in Iran. Photo courtesy of Ynetnews.
In a stunning display of military precision and strategic intelligence, Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion” early Friday morning, delivering devastating blows to Iran’s nuclear weapons program and eliminating top military commanders in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a mission to remove an existential threat to the Jewish state.
The unprecedented strikes, involving over 200 Israeli fighter jets hitting more than 100 targets across Iran, represent the most significant attack on Iranian soil since the 1980s Iraq-Iran war. The operation has effectively crippled Tehran’s nuclear ambitions while protecting American interests without putting a single U.S. soldier at risk.
Israeli forces successfully targeted Iran’s main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, causing “significant damage” to underground centrifuge halls and supporting infrastructure critical to weapons development. The strikes also hit facilities in Tehran and targeted Iran’s ballistic missile production capabilities.
The attacks killed Iran’s top military brass, including Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Hossein Salami and Chief of Armed Forces Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, along with nuclear scientists Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi.
President Trump warned that Iran had been given “chance after chance to make a deal” on its nuclear program, and that the alternative would be “much worse than anything they know, anticipated, or were told.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that while the United States was not directly involved in the strikes, Israel had informed the Trump administration that the action was “necessary for its self-defense.” The President told reporters the strikes were “great for the market” because they ensure “Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” calling it “a very successful attack, to put it mildly.”
Iran operates through a network of proxy terrorist organizations, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen—that have destabilized host countries and, in some cases, supplanted local governments. Since October 2023, Iranian-backed militias have launched over 170 missile, rocket, and drone attacks on U.S. bases in Syria and Iraq, injuring at least 21 American service members. These same groups have bombed the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon, attacked U.S. troops in Iraq, and fought against American allies in Syria.
Iran has also sought to establish a land bridge from Iran through Iraq and Syria into Lebanon, a corridor some Hezbollah fighters refer to as “Wilayat Imam Ali” (the state or province of Imam Ali). In parallel, Houthi forces have mounted sophisticated attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, forcing more than 540 vessels to reroute at significant cost and disruption.
Israel serves as a vital outpost for American values in one of the world’s most volatile regions, with a strong civil society, democratic institutions, free elections, an independent judiciary, and protections for speech and press. The U.S.-Israel alliance provides America with a key military, security, and intelligence partner. Israel’s capabilities make it indispensable for confronting regional threats and advancing U.S. interests.
This operation marks a clear foreign policy success. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) praised Israel’s action as an example of “Peace Through Strength,” emphasizing how military readiness deters aggression. Rather than leaving Israel to face Iran alone, the Trump administration offered diplomatic backing while keeping American forces out of harm’s way. By allowing Israel to neutralize the threat directly, the U.S. achieved its strategic goals without deploying troops. President Trump said stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons would be “great for the market” and “the greatest thing ever for the market.”
The Israeli strikes came just days before planned nuclear negotiations in Oman, aimed at addressing international concerns over Iran’s uranium enrichment. Iran is currently enriching uranium to 60% purity—well above the 3.67% cap set by previous agreements and dangerously close to the 90% needed for weapons-grade material. According to a former U.S. official, Iran was “essentially naked” after Israel’s October 2024 raid destroyed its last three Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air missile systems, leaving it nearly defenseless against airstrikes.
Israel’s operation delivers multiple strategic benefits for the United States. By eliminating the immediate threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, the strike helps prevent a regional arms race. Targeting key Iranian commanders disrupts terrorist networks that threaten American troops, allies, and assets, while degrading Iran’s capabilities protects global shipping lanes and energy infrastructure—benefiting the U.S. economy.
The operation also underscores the value of supporting strong democratic allies. Israel’s decisive action advanced American interests without risking U.S. lives, demonstrating the effectiveness of President Trump’s doctrine of “Peace Through Strength.” As Trump noted, this ensures Iran will never threaten the world with nuclear weapons and reinforces Israel’s role as a bulwark against Islamic extremism and terrorism. It’s a clear foreign policy success: maximum strategic gain with minimal American risk.
Iran launched over 100 drones toward Israel in retaliation, but Israel’s military said its air defenses had shot down most of them. This demonstrates Israel’s superior defensive capabilities and Iran’s limited ability to respond effectively.
Simone Ledeen, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East under President Trump, says Iran now faces degraded capabilities and limited options for meaningful retaliation. She anticipates continued covert actions and possible Israeli follow-on strikes, particularly aimed at Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and military command structure.
Ledeen argues that U.S. support for Israel goes beyond alliance—it is a matter of national interest. “There are around 300,000 Americans currently in Israel. Supporting Israel’s security is about protecting our own citizens and our own interests in the region, as it always has been,” she said.
She urged continued intelligence, material, and diplomatic backing, stating that President Trump has made clear the U.S. will assist if Israel is attacked. “Strategic clarity now will help deter further escalation,” she concluded.
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