Israel Attacks Iran’s Nuclear Program in Major Preemptive Strike
Israel launched a large-scale strike on Iran's nuclear program in the early hours of Friday morning -- a long-discussed preemptive attack that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called essential to the nation's survival. Iran's nuclear program has long been the flashpoint of worldwide tensions. Although Iran claimed its ambitions were peaceful, Israel and much of the West said it was a cover for developing nuclear weapons -- weapons that could be used against its biggest enemy, Israel.
The attack came the same week the Trump administration held negotiations with Iran for a deal on its nuclear program. Concerns over Iran developing nuclear weapons date back at least to the administration of U.S. President George H.W. Bush (1989-1993), although it reached a crescendo when President Obama negotiated a controversial nuclear deal in 2015. Now, though, that nuclear program may have been eliminated.
Israel on Friday said the strike had targeted Iran's nuclear program and had killed its top nuclear scientists. The attack also took aim at Iran's ballistic missile arsenal, Israel said.
The attack, carried out by Israel's Air Force and military, apparently targeted not only Iran's nuclear program but also its ability to counterattack. It was months, if not years, in the making.
Israel used roughly 200 fighter jets in attacking 100 targets, it said.
Ever since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran -- unlike majority Muslim countries such as Egypt and Jordan -- has not recognized Israel's right to exist.
The military action against Iran was dubbed "Rising Lion." Netanyahu said it was "a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival."
"This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat," Netanyahu told the nation in an address. "For decades, the tyrants of Tehran have brazenly, openly called for Israel's destruction. They've backed up their genocidal rhetoric with a program to develop nuclear weapons. In recent years, Iran has produced enough highly enriched uranium for nine atom bombs."
In recent months, the prime minister said, Iran has taken steps "it has never taken before" to weaponize the enriched uranium.
"If not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time. It could be a year. It could be within a few months or less than a year. This is a clear and present danger to Israel's very survival."
Later on Friday, Netanyahu said the opening strike was successful and that "with God's help, we are going to have many more achievements."
Moments ago, Israel launched Operation “Rising Lion”, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival.
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) June 13, 2025
This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.
——
Statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: pic.twitter.com/XgUTy90g1S
President Trump on Friday said the United States supports Israel.
"I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to 'just do it,' but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn't get it done," Trump wrote on a Truth Social post. "I told them it would be much worse than anything they know, anticipated, or were told, that the United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come -- And they know how to use it. Certain Iranian hardliner's spoke bravely, but they didn't know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!"
Trump added, "There is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end."
Let's Talk about It
Is the Israel-Iran conflict about to ignite a full-scale war? We’re living in a moment where rumors of war feel more real than ever. Is this just another chapter in a long saga—or are we approaching something far more dangerous? Share your thoughts HERE on Crosswalk forums, a safe space for believers to share their thoughts on current events.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Anadolu/Contributor
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
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Originally published June 13, 2025.
