IDF: Here's How Israel Crushed Iran’s Nukes in Operation Rising Lion | WATCH

Two weeks after launching Operation Rising Lion on June 12, 2025, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a comprehensive summary today detailing how the operation thwarted an existential threat from Iran’s advancing nuclear and missile programs.

The campaign, described as Israel’s longest-range military operation, targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, senior military leadership, and missile infrastructure, disrupting a coordinated plan dubbed the “Destruction of Israel.” The operation’s success, while costly, has set back Iran’s nuclear ambitions by years and significantly weakened its military capabilities, though tensions persist amid a fragile ceasefire.

A Dire Threat Uncovered

The IDF revealed that Iran was dangerously close to developing a nuclear weapon, rapidly enriching uranium to near-military-grade levels with enough fissile material for several bombs. Intelligence confirmed Iran’s “Destruction of Israel” plan, a multi-front assault involving missile barrages from Iran and its proxies (Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis) followed by a ground invasion into Israeli territory. Iran was also scaling up missile production, aiming for 8,000 precision-guided missiles by 2027, posing a direct threat to Israel’s security.

For years, Israel monitored Iran’s actions, employing covert measures to delay its nuclear and missile programs. As the threat reached a critical threshold, the IDF completed preparations for a long-range operation, securing the home front and coordinating with the United States, a key ally. “We had no other choice,” the IDF stated, emphasizing the operation’s necessity to prevent an imminent existential danger.

Operation Rising Lion: A Multi-Layered Assault

Launched on June 12, 2025, Operation Rising Lion began with a surprise strike 1,500 kilometers from Israel, targeting every facet of Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure:

Nuclear Facilities: Over 50 Israeli fighter jets struck key sites, including Natanz, Iran’s largest uranium enrichment facility, and a conversion facility near Isfahan, destroying thousands of centrifuges and critical components. The inactive Arak reactor, capable of producing plutonium, was also hit. A fortified underground enrichment site was struck by the U.S. military, ensuring comprehensive damage. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported damage to four buildings in Isfahan but no radiation leaks. These strikes have eliminated Iran’s ability to enrich uranium to military-grade levels for the foreseeable future.

Military Leadership: The IDF eliminated over 30 senior IRGC commanders, including Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, and their successors. Eleven nuclear scientists, including Fereydoon Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, were killed, dealing a critical blow to Iran’s nuclear expertise.

Missile and Drone Capabilities: The IDF destroyed over 50% of Iran’s missile launchers, 950 drones, and 30 facilities producing ballistic missile components. This disrupted Iran’s plans for a massive missile barrage and curtailed its long-range missile production, previously aimed at targeting Israel.

Within hours, the IDF achieved aerial superiority over western Iran, enabling operations in Tehran’s airspace. The strikes reduced Iran’s planned missile assault, though Iran still launched 530 missiles and 1,100 drones at Israel, targeting population centers. Israeli air defenses, including the Air Force and Navy, intercepted 99% of the drones and many missiles, but 29 civilians were killed, with injuries and property damage reported, including four deaths in Beersheba.

Strategic Outcomes and Ongoing Challenges

The 12-day operation, ending with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on June 24, 2025, achieved its primary objectives:

Nuclear Setback: Iran’s nuclear program was delayed by years, with uranium enrichment and plutonium production capabilities severely degraded.

Missile Reduction: Over half of Iran’s missile launchers and production sites were destroyed, limiting its ability to threaten Israel with precision-guided missiles.

Proxy Weakening: The operation weakened Iran’s regional proxies, including Hezbollah, with additional IDF strikes on June 27 targeting a Hezbollah underground site in southern Lebanon, cited as a violation of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire.

Despite these successes, the IDF acknowledged Iran’s unchanged intentions, stating, “The enemy has not changed its intentions.” The operation’s toll included 29 Israeli civilian deaths, underscoring the human cost. The IDF remains alert, continuing operations against Hamas in Gaza, where 50 hostages remain in captivity, and preparing for potential escalations.

The IDF expressed gratitude to the U.S. for its critical role, with years of coordination enabling strikes like the one on Iran’s underground facility. The ceasefire, brokered by President Donald Trump, faces strain, with Iran alleging a June 27 drone strike in Tehran, killing two IRGC officers and a nuclear scientist, violated terms. Israel cites Iranian missile fire as justification for continued operations. Trump’s ongoing nuclear talks with Iran, demanding a halt to uranium enrichment, remain contentious.

The IDF’s statement concluded, “Today’s actions are for tomorrow’s future, for our children and grandchildren. We will continue to stand strong and prevail.”