Iran-Israel Conflict: Israel confirms preemptive attack on Iran under Operation Rising Lion; military, nuclear locations targeted

Israel-Iran Geopolitical Tensions: Israel has confirmed preemptive strikes on Iran amid rising tensions between both sides. In an official statement, the Israeli military said that Iran’s military command targets, military locations, headquarters and nuclear sites were targeted.

The Israel Defense Forces, also known as Tzahal, carried out strikes on Iran’s nuclear programme, with explosions heard in the early hours in Tehran, foreign media reported.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly said the strikes were part of “Operation Rising Lion”, describing Iran as a threat.

The preemptive military action was to counter a “threat to Israel’s very survival”, said Netanyahu. 

The Israeli PM also said that the attack “struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme”, adding that the strikes will continue for as long as it takes.

Iran was learned to have closed its airspace. 

Declaring a state of emergency, Israel said that it expected retaliation, with Jerusalem waking up to sirens followed by a phone alert. The country’s defence minister said counter-attacks were expected “in the immediate future”.

IDF’s ‘preemptive, precise, combine offensive to strike Iran nuclear programme

Dozens of Israeli Air Force jets completed the first stage that included strikes on dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran, the IDF wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“Today, Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon. Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime are an existential threat to the State of Israel and to the wider world,” wrote the IDF. 

It also asserted that Israel has “no choice but to fulfill the obligation to act in defense of its citizens”.

A statement from IDF Spokesperson BG Effie Defrin on the preemptive Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear targets pic.twitter.com/IJNT5LXz6o

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 13, 2025

All flights were reportedly suspended indefinitely at the Iranian capital’s main international airport while Tel Aviv-bound flights were diverted to other locations. 

The Iranian state television channel reported that the Revolutionary Guards headquarters in Tehran were hit, along with residential areas.