By: Fern Sidman

In a landmark report released Friday morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) provided a comprehensive summary of Operation Rising Lion—a preemptive military campaign launched on June 13 to dismantle what Israeli intelligence assessed as an imminent and existential threat posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. As detailed in a report that appeared on Israel National News, the operation marked one of the most extensive and technologically integrated campaigns in the IDF’s history, achieving its strategic goals with surgical precision and overwhelming force.

According to the IDF summary, the operation was precipitated by mounting intelligence indicating that Iran had escalated its uranium enrichment program, reaching levels of 60%—a critical threshold that could quickly lead to weapons-grade material. Beyond mere enrichment, Israeli Military Intelligence unearthed covert activities across Iran’s nuclear sector, including advanced weapons research and experimentation believed to be part of a secret regime directive.

The Israel National News report emphasized the significance of these revelations, which, combined with Iran’s surge in missile production and aggressive regional posturing, prompted military leaders to act swiftly. The Islamic Republic was reportedly preparing to more than triple its inventory of precision-guided missiles, growing its stockpile from 2,500 to nearly 8,000 units. These missiles, many with the capability to strike deep into Israeli territory, were expected to form the backbone of a coordinated, multi-front assault involving Tehran’s proxy militias in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and the Gaza Strip.

Faced with a rapidly closing window of opportunity, the IDF, in close coordination with the United States, greenlit Operation Rising Lion—a surprise offensive designed to cripple Iran’s strategic capabilities before its plans could materialize.

According to the information provided in the Israel National News report, planning for the operation intensified during the latter half of 2024, particularly amid renewed hostilities with Hezbollah. The final plan envisioned a lightning strike on multiple fronts: nuclear sites, missile factories, command-and-control infrastructure, and air defense systems. Israeli analysts have described the operation as a textbook demonstration of hybrid warfare: integrating air, land, sea, cyber, and intelligence assets in a synchronized offensive.

In the initial wave, the Israel Air Force executed over 1,500 sorties, targeting more than 900 high-value sites across Iran, including installations in Natanz, Arak, and Isfahan. Israeli aircraft flew over 2,000 kilometers—well beyond their traditional operational envelope—thanks to midair refueling and satellite-guided navigation systems. Israel National News reports that nearly 80 of Iran’s 100 anti-aircraft batteries were neutralized in the first 72 hours of the campaign, giving Israeli jets uncontested airspace over Iran.

Simultaneously, Israeli commandos and cyber units dismantled critical radar stations and communications hubs, while long-range missiles struck hardened underground bunkers believed to be housing centrifuges and classified research programs, as per the information in the Israel National News report. Ground-to-ground missile launchers were targeted en masse, with half reportedly destroyed by the end of the first week of operations.

According to the IDF’s report, roughly 35 missile and air defense production sites were annihilated, while six military airfields were rendered inoperable. The IDF’s naval forces intercepted over 30 drone and missile threats in the Mediterranean and Red Sea, providing an additional layer of defense.

The IDF estimates that the campaign succeeded in eliminating more than 30 high-ranking Iranian military officers, including Tehran’s top three military commanders. The INN report indicated that hundreds of Iranian soldiers were also killed, though the IDF took care to avoid civilian casualties where possible—employing advanced precision munitions and issuing preemptive warnings to nearby populations when feasible.

The most consequential blow, however, came in the form of the decimation of Iran’s uranium enrichment infrastructure. Thousands of centrifuges were destroyed, particularly in the hardened facilities at Natanz and Fordow, reducing Iran’s uranium enrichment capacity by an estimated 90%. Israel National News reported that this damage has rendered Iran’s nuclear program effectively paralyzed for the foreseeable future.

Air defense units within Israel intercepted hundreds of retaliatory missile and drone attacks with a success rate exceeding 99%, according to the IDF. Meanwhile, the Israeli Home Front Command mobilized its full emergency apparatus, issuing over one million public alerts, deploying more than 100 mobile protection units, and maintaining 170 active rescue centers to safeguard civilians.

As the dust settles, Operation Rising Lion is being hailed by Israeli defense analysts as a watershed moment in regional military strategy. The report on Israel National News underscored that the campaign not only neutralized immediate threats but also shattered Iran’s long-standing perception of strategic immunity—long believed to shield its critical infrastructure from direct Israeli attack.

Military officials emphasized that the operation was not a war of conquest but of survival. “This was a necessary act of self-defense against a regime that has made no secret of its genocidal ambitions,” one senior IDF officer told Israel National News. “The message to Tehran is clear: Israel will never wait to be annihilated.”

The IDF also emphasized the multi-branch nature of the operation. Thousands of active-duty and reserve personnel were mobilized across all services. The coordination among air, sea, land, cyber, and intelligence units represented a high-water mark in operational integration.

Internationally, the operation drew a mixed response. While allies such as the United States, United Kingdom, and several European states privately expressed support for Israel’s right to self-defense, some nations criticized the scale and scope of the strikes. Nevertheless, the report on Israel National News pointed out that Iran’s own provocations—chiefly its blatant defiance of International Atomic Energy Agency inspections and its supply of weapons to terrorist groups—left little doubt about the legitimacy of Israel’s actions.

In conclusion, the IDF has assessed that Operation Rising Lion not only dismantled a clear and present danger but also redrew the strategic map of the Middle East. Israel National News characterized the operation as “an audacious yet necessary step to ensure that the Jewish state retains the ability to defend its people from existential threats.”

The war rooms may be quiet now, but the reverberations of Operation Rising Lion will likely echo across the region for years to come. One thing is certain: Israel, through decisive action and unrivaled coordination, has reminded the world—and Iran—that its red lines are not rhetorical. They are operational.