Israel strikes Iranian nuclear targets
- Israel strikes Iranian nuclear targets
By
Key Aero
13th June 2025
News
Israel launched Operation Rising Lion during the night of June 12/13 to counter what it saw as the rising threat of Iran making nuclear weapons.
The Israeli Air Force stated on its X account that over 200 fighters struck in excess of 100 targets throughout Iran including nuclear-related sites, scientists involved in the nuclear programme and senior military leaders. The
Israeli Air Force released photos and video of aircraft departing for Operation Rising Lion showing F-16I Soufas from 107 Squadron, F-35I Adirs and the pure fighter variant of the F-15.
Six F-16Is from 107 Squadron preparing to launch for Operation Rising Lion. Israeli Air Force
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation had been launched “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.” He added that Iran “had a programme to develop nuclear weapons, in recent years Iran has produced enough enriched uranium for nine atom bombs. In recent months, Iran has taken steps it has never taken before, steps to weaponise this enriched uranium – if not stopped Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time, it could be a year, it could be with a few months”. He went onto give details of some of the targets Israel has attacked: “We struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme, we struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear weaponisation programme, we targeted Iran’s main enrichment facility at Natanz, we targeted Iran’s leading nuclear scientists working on the Iranian bomb, we also struck at the heart of Iran’s ballistic missile programme.
“Last year Iran fired 300 ballistic missiles at Israel, each of these missiles carries a ton 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 millions. Iran is gearing up to produces 10,000 of those missiles within three years.
“Iran plans to give those nuclear weapons to its terrorist proxies that would make the nightmare of nuclear terrorism all too real. The increasing range of Iran’s ballistic missiles would bring that nuclear nightmare to the cities of Europe and eventually America.”
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) X account also stated: “we can now confirm that the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Commander of the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] and the Commander of Iran’s Emergency Command were all eliminated in the Israeli strikes across Iran”.
Over 200 fighter aircraft were involved overnight in the operation against Iran, including F-35Is. Israeli Air Force
Iranian response
Iran has always insisted its nuclear programme was entirely peaceful and that it would not develop or acquire nuclear weapons.
A statement from Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to defend Iran’s sovereignty with full strength and in the manner they deem appropriate. It also stated: “The grave and far-reaching consequences of the Zionist regime’s aggression against our beloved homeland, Iran, will rest entirely upon this regime and its supporters.”
The statement also said: “The Zionist regime’s acts of aggression against Iran could not have been carried out without the coordination and approval of the United States. Consequently, the US government, as the primary patron of this regime, will also bear responsibility for the dangerous repercussions of the Zionist regime’s reckless actions.”
A statement from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio read: “Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defence. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.”
So far it was being reported Iran had launched around 100 drones against Israel with the IDF saying many were intercepted.
Following the attacks Israel closed its airspace to civilian traffic as has Jordan, Iraq and Iran.
Come back for more on this developing story.
A 107 Sqn F-16I blasts off on a mission against Iran. Israeli Air Force
