In the early hours of June 13, 2025, Israel executed a stunning Iran nuclear strike—a massive air campaign codenamed **Operation Rising Lion**—that sent ripples across the world. This sweeping operation bears an uncanny resemblance to Israel’s 1981 attack on Iraq’s Osirak reactor, known as **Operation Opera**, delivering a deliberate warning: nuclear ambition in the region will not go unchallenged.
📌 What Was Operation Opera (1981)?
On June 7, 1981, fourteen Israeli jets plunged over 1,100 km to strike Iraq’s Osirak reactor near Baghdad. Designed as a “research” facility, Israel and Western intelligence agreed it could easily be repurposed to produce weapons-grade plutonium. The meticulously planned raid—flying low across Jordan and Saudi airspace—obliterated the reactor in under two minutes. All aircraft returned safely. Though the UN condemned it, Israel’s **Begin Doctrine** was born: no nuclear threat from Arab states would be tolerated.
🚀 Operation Rising Lion: Parallel Strategy
The unprecedented Iran nuclear strike launched on June 13, 2025, involved over 200 jets targeting at least 100 facilities, including Natanz and Fordow, as well as residences of high-ranking military and nuclear officials. According to public reports, commanders like Hossein Salami and Mohammad Bagheri, and two nuclear scientists, were killed .
- Massive scale: ~200 aircraft vs 14 in 1981
- Targets: nuclear infrastructure + top officials
- Tactics: stealthy, long-range, coordinating Mossad & IDF
📊 Strategic Messaging: Then and Now
Both operations convey a stark message: Israel will act unilaterally to neutralize nuclear threats. Operation Opera expanded Israel’s defense doctrine, while Rising Lion represents its most direct strike on Iran ever—the most dramatic escalation since the Iran–Iraq War .
🧭 Global Fallout & Diplomatic Ripples
Just as the 1981 strike drew UN condemnation (Resolution 487), today’s **Iran nuclear strike** challenges international law and geopolitical stability. The U.S. acknowledged Israel’s action but insisted it was not directly involved . Tehran labeled it “a declaration of war,” signaling possible full-scale conflict ahead.
🔗 Further Reading & Credible Sources
Explore related coverage of Israel’s escalation:
- Israel Strikes Iran’s Elite: Why Netanyahu Escalated Now – The Morning News Informer
- June 2025 Israeli strikes on Iran
- Operation Opera (1981) on Wikipedia
🔁 Internal Links: Dive Deeper
Learn more through these detailed analyses:
- History of Israeli preventive strikes
- Profile: Operation Opera (1981)
- Analysis: Operation Rising Lion
- Middle East nuclear policy overview
📝 Conclusion: A Doctrine Reinforced
The modern **Iran nuclear strike** signals that the Begin Doctrine endures—and has intensified. Israel’s willingness to strike deep into hostile territory to forestall nuclear threats is now etched into global strategic calculus. As diplomatic channels falter and regional tensions spike, the world watches: will this bold move deter Tehran’s nuclear path—or reignite a precarious war?
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