The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed on Friday that it launched a 12-day offensive against Iran and destroyed three of the most important nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—causing a massive blow to Iran's nuclear program.
Launched on June 13 and dubbed Operation Rising Lion, the mission aimed to disrupt Iran's nuclear and missile development programs, which, according to Israel, were advancing toward objectives that posed an existential threat. The IDF stated that intelligence had revealed considerable progress in these programs, whose stated aim was to “destroy the State of Israel.”
In order to demoralize Iran's nuclear program, the operation focused not just on infrastructure but also on personnel. Israeli troops allegedly murdered 11 top nuclear scientists who were considered essential to Iran's weapons program. The inactive Arak nuclear reactor was also attacked in order to incapacitate its revival in future endeavors.
"The key building blocks of the missile manufacturing industry were attacked.". Over 35 locations were targeted, 200 launchers and 50 per cent of all Iranian regime launchers were totally destroyed. Over 1,500 components, 15 enemy aircraft, over 90 targets, 80 surface-to-air missile launchers and 6 airfields were targeted in total. Hundreds of Iranian combatants were killed, dozens of commanders were targeted and over 30 high-ranking members of Iran's regime security establishment were thwarted," said the IDF in its official briefing. ".
The military also added that the operation resulted in total air dominance over Iranian airspace, completing all objectives of the mission. "Throughout the operation, high-quality and accurate intelligence, as well as operational, technological and aerial capabilities, were apparent. And in addition to the whole offensive effort, the defence systems worked day and night," the IDF stated.
As a part of gaining control of the air space, the Israeli Air Force is said to have conducted 1,500 sorties, of which around 600 were mid-air refueling sorties. The attacks comprised 1,400 conducted by manned fighter jets and 500 by drones. The longest range attack is said to have been one aimed at Mashhad airport, almost 2,400 kilometers from Israel.
The IDF also boasted of its success in neutralizing aerial threats, saying that "99 per cent of the drones launched from Iran were intercepted." The Home Front Command and emergency and recovery teams reacted to incidents at over 170 sites inside Israel during the operation.
The 12-day war ended earlier this week when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the acceptance of a proposed ceasefire with Iran. Netanyahu, in a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office, said that the operation had achieved its objectives.
Israel has accomplished everything Operation Rising Lion sought to do, and even much more than that. Israel has eliminated a twin immediate existential threat – in both the nuclear and ballistic missile realms," reads the statement.
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