Philip C. Johnson
June 13, 2025
Operation Rising Lion: Targets and Impact
On June 13, 2025 (Iran-time), Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion,” deploying 200 fighter jets and 330 munitions against Iran’s nuclear and military sites. The Natanz uranium enrichment facility suffered severe damage to its underground centrifuge halls, with nuclear sites at Khondab and Khorramabad also hit. IRGC headquarters in Tehran, missile launchers, and air defenses were targeted, with Iranian reports citing 78 deaths and 329 injuries, including civilians in elite residential areas. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu declared on X, “We struck the heart of Iran’s terror machine to protect our people.”
Casualties: IRGC and Nuclear Scientists
The strikes eliminated IRGC leaders, including Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami, Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, and commander Gholam Ali Rashid. Nuclear scientists Fereydoon Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, linked to Iran’s alleged weapons program, were killed, crippling its nuclear ambitions.
Regional Interception and Trump’s Influence
Iran retaliated with over 100 drones, many neutralized by Israeli defenses and allies like Jordan. Qatar and the UAE reportedly intercepted missiles and drones over their airspace, a surprising move aligning them with Israel over Iran, a fellow Muslim nation. Analysts attribute this to former President Donald Trump’s Middle East diplomacy, particularly the Abraham Accords, which fostered ties between Israel and Gulf States. “Trump’s work with Qatar and UAE built trust that Iran could never match,” posted Middle East analyst Walid Phares on X. Speculation suggests Trump’s backchannel negotiations during his second term emboldened these states to prioritize regional stability and counter Iran’s aggressive posturing, though this risks inflaming Tehran’s rhetoric against Gulf neighbors.
Iranian Public Reaction
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed “severe punishment,” but anti-regime sentiment simmers. Mayar Tusi of Tusi TV, someone whose reporting I trust, wrote on X, “Many Iranians are quietly cheering the strikes, hoping they weaken the mullahs’ grip.” Some citizens, especially youth, see opportunity for reform, though others demand retaliation to preserve national pride.
Hezbollah’s Stance and Weakened Position
Hezbollah, Iran’s battered proxy in Lebanon, condemned the strikes but has not committed to retaliatory attacks. Weakened by Israel’s 2024 campaign, which included devastating strikes and innovative attacks using exploding pagers and walkie-talkies that killed dozens and disrupted communications, Hezbollah appears reluctant to escalate. No formal surrender has been declared, but its restraint suggests a diminished capacity to act as Iran’s regional enforcer. “Hezbollah’s silence speaks volumes; they’re a shadow of their former self,” tweeted Israeli journalist Amichai Stein. I can attest to this personally as I surveyed the damage Israel had inflicted this past January in Beirut and up and down the coast of Lebanon.
U.S. Involvement
The U.S. denied direct involvement, with President Trump pushing diplomacy for a nuclear deal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified no U.S. forces were used, though Trump noted Israel’s use of American equipment. “We stand with Israel but won’t escalate unless Iran forces our hand,” Trump posted on X. The U.S. aims to avoid a wider war, and Trump campaigned on being a President that didn’t start new wars. But Iran’s threats against American bases could draw U.S. involvement.
Implications for Iran’s Christians
If the Iranian regime collapses, Iran’s underground Christian community – estimated at hundreds of thousands, fueled by conversions from Islam and secular backgrounds – could see greater freedom. Currently, these believers face persecution, meeting in secret house churches. A regime change might ease restrictions, though instability could also pose risks. “Iran’s Christians pray for freedom to worship openly,” shared Open Doors USA on X.
Israel’s Secret Drone Program and Mossad
Mossad’s covert drone program, operating from a secret base near Tehran, struck missile launchers, echoing the 2024 Hezbollah pager attacks that sowed chaos. These drones crippled Iran’s air defenses, enabling the airstrikes. “Mossad’s precision is unmatched; Iran never saw it coming,” posted former IDF officer Eyal Dror on X.
Israel’s Next Steps and Regional Outlook
Sen. John Fetterman, a pro-Israel voice – and someone I didn’t have on my bingo card as an individual I would quote – posted, “Our commitment to Israel must be absolute. I fully support this attack. Keep wiping out Iranian leadership and nuclear personnel.” Israel seeks to neutralize Iran’s nuclear threat, but risks retaliation. Netanyahu may pursue further strikes, though the world will call restraint and Iran’s response – should they be able to mount one – will dictate what comes next. As usual, the world is full of twists and turns, but maybe, just maybe, this could all lead to an Israel that can live in a state of peace, with unwalled villages and a sense of security. At least for a little while. (Ezekiel 38)
The Global Nexter 
thank you for this