Tensions explode as Israel strikes Iran’s nuclear sites in ‘Operation Rising Lion’ following a deadly missile attack. Khamenei’s fate and U.S. intervention hang in balance.
Middle East on Edge as Israel Targets Iranian Leadership and Nuclear Program in Escalating Conflict
An already volatile standoff between Israel and Iran has intensified dramatically after Iran launched a missile strike on a medical facility in Beersheba, a southern Israeli city. The attack, which also injured civilians in other parts of Israel, has provoked a sweeping military response.
In a fiery statement, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “cannot be allowed to exist any longer,” signaling what appears to be a shift toward direct regime targeting.
Israel has responded with “Operation Rising Lion”, a multi-phase campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and military assets, including critical sites in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow. The heavy water reactor at Arak has also been reportedly struck. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the missile offensive has dealt significant blows to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has verified that facilities in Natanz and Isfahan suffered confirmed damage, raising international concerns over potential radioactive fallout and regional destabilization.
The Washington-based Human Rights Watch reports that over 639 Iranians have been killed since the start of hostilities last Friday, the majority of them civilians. On the Israeli side, 24 deaths have been confirmed.
The conflict has drawn international scrutiny. U.S. President Donald Trump has not ruled out direct American military involvement. Sources from CBS News suggest that Trump has reviewed and approved a potential strike plan on Iran, though no final order has been given.
Meanwhile, Russia has condemned Israel’s initial round of airstrikes and called for restraint. President Vladimir Putin spoke with Trump over the weekend, and according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, both leaders discussed the reopening of talks on Iran’s nuclear program—a diplomatic lifeline hanging by a thread.
The prospect of regime change in Tehran, active targeting of Iran’s top leadership, and the risk of a broader regional war now dominate the geopolitical landscape, with global powers watching—and waiting.
