On June 13, 2025, Israel executed a large-scale military operation, code-named “Am K’Lavi” (With the Might of a Lion), targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and senior military leadership in a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions.
The Israeli Air Force, deploying over 200 F-35 and F-16 fighter jets in coordinated multi-wave assaults, struck approximately 330 strategic targets, including the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, the Fordow underground research center, ballistic missile production plants in Tehran, and military command centers in Piranshahr, as reported by Reuters and TRT World.
The strikes resulted in the deaths of key Iranian figures, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief General Hossein Salami, Major General Gholamali Rashid, Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mohammad Bagheri, and six nuclear scientists, dealing a severe blow to Iran’s nuclear program and military hierarchy. Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant described the operation as a “preemptive necessity” to halt Iran’s alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Iran’s Atomic Energy Agency confirmed “catastrophic damage” at Natanz, suspending uranium enrichment operations, while Tehran reported 12 civilian casualties and vowed a “severe response,” according to Reuters. Iran retaliated by launching over 50 Shahed drones, most of which were intercepted by Israel’s Arrow missile defense system, as noted by The Times of Israel. The operation followed months of escalating rhetoric, with U.S. President Donald Trump warning of potential Israeli strikes on June 12 during an address in Oman on stalled nuclear negotiations.
Iran’s oil exports, reduced to 300,000 barrels per day under Trump’s renewed sanctions, heightened its economic vulnerability, according to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, representing President Bola Tinubu, issued a statement urging “immediate restraint” and aligning with the African Union’s call for de-escalation, per Channels Television.
The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session, with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin offering to mediate, as reported by Reuters. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director Rafael Grossi called for both nations to resume negotiations under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to prevent further escalation, per TRT World. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strikes, asserting they “set Iran’s nuclear ambitions back by years,” according to The Times of Israel. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pledged a “calculated counterstrike,” while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated support for Israel’s “right to self-defense,” per Reuters.
Discover more from RainSMediaRadio
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
