How the Islamic Republic of Iran's Nuclear Capability Was Crippled by Israel's Unprecedented Targeted Attack

How the Islamic Republic of Iran's Nuclear Capability Was Crippled by Israel's Unprecedented Targeted Attack

The assault launched by Israel on Iran is, in many ways, unprecedented. The operation has been codenamed "Operation Rising Lion." Iran has responded with counterattacks on Israel.

While Iran and Israel exchanged missiles and drones last year, the recent Iranian retaliation has been far more expansive than any past confrontations.

Notably, this is being considered the most significant attack on Iranian territory since the Iran-Iraq War of 1980–1988.

Before dawn, the Israeli Air Force targeted not only sites linked to Iran’s nuclear program but also the country's air defense systems and ballistic missile bases. This has weakened Iran's ability to launch effective retaliatory strikes.

Reportedly, Israeli intelligence agency Mossad's network helped pinpoint the exact locations of top Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. In this operation, Israel killed the heads of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the regular armed forces, and the IRGC's air force chief. The IRGC was a driving force behind the 1979 Islamic Revolution that overthrew the Shah's regime.

Iran has confirmed that at least six of its nuclear scientists were also killed.

Israel’s intelligence agency successfully infiltrated the core of Iran's security institutions, proving that no one is truly safe anymore.

According to Iran's state television, at least 78 people were killed, including civilians and children. (Note: This figure is unofficial and has not been independently verified.)

It is also reported that Mossad was able to carry out drone strikes from within Iranian territory itself. The main targets of this entire operation were nuclear facilities and IRGC bases—objectives Israel has long intended to strike.

This assault has shaken Iran. It could be just the beginning. It’s possible that Israel has more targets on its list, aiming to further weaken Iran through successive strikes.

Some of these targets might even lie beyond Israel’s immediate reach—possibly housed deep underground in heavily fortified bunkers carved beneath solid rock.

Now, the critical question remains: What prompted Israel to launch such a strike, and why did it choose this specific time to do so?