The Significance of Israel’s Attack on Iran from a Military and Prophetic Perspective

Several high-profile military and nuclear figures were eliminated, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, Hossein Salami, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Gholamali Rashid, head of Iran’s Emergency Command. Additionally, at least six nuclear scientists, including prominent figures like Fereydoon Abbasi and Mohammad Mahdi Tehranchi, were killed, dealing a significant blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

While long planned, the success was now based on three key factors. First, the degradation of Iran’s regional proxies—Hamas, Hezbollah, and Syrian forces—has significantly reduced the threat of retaliatory attacks on Israel. Hezbollah’s arsenal and operational capacity have been severely weakened, Hamas’s ability to strike inside Israel is nearly nonexistent, and the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria has disrupted Iran’s weapons smuggling routes.

Second, Israel demonstrated advanced operational capabilities, including the ability to penetrate Iranian airspace with hundreds of aircraft and precision munitions. The destruction of Iran’s S-300 air defense systems last year left its airspace vulnerable, enabling Israel to execute a large-scale assault. This was complemented by an unprecedented and unimaginable operation with secure positions and hardware ready to strike on the ground.

Third, the shifting political landscape in Washington, with President Trump favoring diplomacy but expressing skepticism about Iran’s willingness to negotiate, provided Israel with tacit approval to act unilaterally, possibly under the guise of diplomatic posturing to catch Iran off guard. President Trump negotiated with Iran, giving them 60 days to make a deal. Today was day 61.

The Mossad’s covert operations were particularly remarkable, showcasing Israel’s intelligence prowess. Agents smuggled precision-guided weapons and explosive drones into Iran, establishing a base near Tehran and deploying commando units to disrupt air defenses. These actions neutralized Iran’s ability to counter Israeli airstrikes and targeted its strategic missile array, including launchers at the Aspehbad base.

By striking nuclear facilities and missile production sites, Israel aimed to delay Iran’s nuclear program and limit its retaliatory capacity, which includes an estimated arsenal of thousands of long-range ballistic missiles.

Iran’s indigenous scientific expertise means it could rebuild its nuclear program, potentially accelerating its pursuit of a nuclear weapon as a deterrent against future attacks.

Biblical Prophecy and the Hand of God

From a Biblical and prophetic perspective, the operation resonates deeply with certain eschatological interpretations, particularly Jeremiah 49:35-39, which speaks of God’s judgment on Elam (modern-day Iran). The scripture declares that God will “break the bow of Elam, the finest of their might,” scatter its people, and destroy its “king and officials,” yet ultimately restore its fortunes. It’s very easy to see Israel’s pre-emptive strike not only as a military success, but realization of this prophecy, with Iran’s nuclear capabilities and ballistic missiles representing the “bow” and the elimination of senior IRGC commanders and nuclear scientists aligning with the destruction of its “king and officials.” The specificity of Elam in the prophecy is notable, as Biblical prophecies rarely name precise locations, lending weight to the belief that this event carries divine significance. Ultimately, God declares that He will establish His throne in Elam, the icing on the cake after the elimination of the Islamic regime.

The operation’s codename, Am KeLavi (A People Rises Like a Lioness), comes from Numbers 23:24, where Balaam, originally sent to curse Israel, blesses the nation instead, likening it to a lioness that “will not lie down until it devours the prey.” This imagery underscores Israel’s resolve to neutralize existential threats and frames the operation as a divinely ordained act of self-preservation. The reference to a Lion is also significant because the previous Iranian flag, before the Islamic revolution, had the image of a lion.

I’m particularly compelled by the warning to Haman in the Book of Esther (6:13), “If Mordecai is a Jew, you cannot win. You have already started to fall. Surely you will be ruined!” Haman was an ancient genocidal Persian tyrant, the predecessor of today’s ayatollahs. The verse is significant too because the operation took place on June 13, 6/13, and as many Jewish friends have observed, 613 is the number of Biblical commandments to the Jewish people.

Biblically, no matter which way you look at it, the operation is not a war against the Iranian people but a liberation from the oppressive rule of the ayatollahs, who have held power since 1979.

While the military and prophetic dimensions highlight the operation’s significance, what comes next is uncertain. Militarily, the strike may delay Iran’s nuclear program, but it is unclear if Israel can eliminate it entirely. Despite many other attacks on the Iranian nuclear program virtually, they have continued to bounce back, making today’s strike urgent. Even with physical destruction they have suffered so far, they have the know-how and drive to rebuild unless there is a radical regime change.

The risk of escalation remains high, and Israel is on high alert. It’s possible, too, that some of Iran’s terrorist proxies may try to attack: from Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Gaza, or to strike soft targets overseas.

From a prophetic standpoint, the operation fuels hope among some that it could trigger change in Iran, with the Iranian people rising up to take back their country, and aligning with Biblical promises of restoration.

While it is essential to neutralize an existential threat and echo Biblical hints of divine judgment, Israel is already being judged in the world. Like the Six Day War, defeat must be strong and cannot be dragged out. The long-term success depends on navigating the balance between military gains, regional stability, and the aspirations of the Iranian people for freedom. As the region braces for Iran’s response, the world watches a pivotal moment that could reshape the Middle East. Done properly, an Iran free of the Islamic rulers and ideology could even become a cornerstone of world peace, and God indeed establish His throne there.

We pray that the military success and prophetic visions will be realized for the good of Iran, the Iranian people, Israel, the Middle East, and indeed the whole world.

Photo Courtesy: ©Getty Images/Amir Levy/Stringer
Published Date: June 13, 2025

Jonathan Feldstein was born and educated in the U.S. and immigrated to Israel in 2004. He is married and the father of six. Throughout his life and career, he has been blessed by the calling to fellowship with Christian supporters of Israel and shares experiences of living as an Orthodox Jew in Israel. He writes regularly for a variety of prominent Christian and conservative websites and is the host of Inspiration from Zion, a popular webinar series and podcast. He can be reached at firstpersonisrael@gmail.com.