Hidden Nuclear Breakthrough: What Triggered Israel’s Boldest Operation in Decades?
Israel launched Operation Narnia to counter Iran’s rapid progress in developing nuclear weapons, driven by a covert group of scientists and a stockpile of enriched uranium. The precise strikes, which eliminated key figures and infrastructure, aimed to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear capability in a matter of weeks.
Israel’s decision to launch Operation Rising Lion, a series of precision strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, was driven by alarming advancements in Iran’s covert nuclear weapons program, according to a Channel 12 report on June 29, 2025. The operation targeted a secretive group of Iranian scientists who had made a “disturbing” leap forward, bringing Iran dangerously close to assembling a nuclear weapon far sooner than previously estimated. With Iran possessing 408 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium, enough to produce multiple nuclear bombs if further refined. and a robust nuclear industry, Israeli decision-makers faced an urgent need to disrupt this accelerated timeline.
The report highlights that the rapid progress by Iran’s covert “weapon group” raised significant concerns among Israel’s intelligence and leadership circles. This group operated under extreme secrecy, advancing nuclear warhead development in a way that alarmed experts familiar with the issue. The fear that Iran could achieve operational nuclear capability within weeks prompted Israel to act decisively. The operation, part of the broader Operation Rising Lion, resulted in the simultaneous elimination of nine senior nuclear scientists in their homes on June 13, 2025, preventing any chance of warning or evasion. A tenth scientist was neutralized later. Unlike previous assassinations in public spaces or vehicles, these targeted strikes leveraged years of precise intelligence, catching the scientists off-guard in their residences.
The coordinated strikes aimed to dismantle Iran’s nuclear ambitions by targeting both infrastructure and key personnel. Combined with U.S. strikes under Operation Midnight Hammer, the campaign severely damaged sites like Natanz and Isfahan, reducing Iran’s uranium enrichment capacity by an estimated 90%. The operation underscores Israel’s proactive stance against existential threats, particularly following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, which reshaped its security doctrine.