12 Hours to Live: The Chilling Israeli Plot to Terrify Iran’s Top Generals!
In the volatile landscape of Middle Eastern geopolitics, a new chapter of tension unfolded in June 2025 when Israel launched a sophisticated and audacious campaign against Iran, blending military precision with psychological warfare. Dubbed "Operation Rising Lion," this multifaceted offensive targeted Iran's nuclear ambitions, military infrastructure, and leadership, while a parallel covert operation aimed to sow fear and division among Iran's elite.
The Genesis of Operation Rising Lion
On June 13, 2025, Israel initiated a series of airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, military bases, and key personnel. The operation was a response to what Israel claimed was an imminent threat from Iran's nuclear program, which, according to Israeli intelligence, was nearing the capability to produce nuclear weapons. While Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported in June 2025 that Iran was non-compliant with its nuclear obligations, citing a stockpile of 409 kg of enriched uranium, close to weapons-grade levels. This finding provided Israel with a pretext for action, escalating decades of covert hostility into open conflict.
The strikes were devastating. Over 200 Israeli fighter jets dropped more than 330 munitions on approximately 100 targets, including the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, the Isfahan uranium conversion plant, and the deeply buried Fordow facility. The attacks killed prominent figures, including Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, and nuclear scientist Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani. Iran's Health Ministry reported over 224 deaths, with 90% identified as civilians, though Israel maintained that its targets were military and nuclear-related.
The Covert Psychological Campaign
Parallel to the airstrikes, Israel executed a clandestine psychological operation designed to destabilize Iran's leadership. Israeli intelligence operatives, leveraging years of infiltration, contacted senior Iranian officials, including IRGC commanders, via phone calls, letters, and messages to their families. One recorded call, obtained by The Washington Post, revealed an Israeli operative warning a senior Iranian general to abandon the regime within 12 hours or face assassination. The operative chillingly stated, "We’re closer to you than your own neck vein," emphasizing Israel's deep penetration into Iran's security apparatus.
This campaign targeted over 20 high-ranking Iranian officials, aiming to instill fear and deter them from filling the power vacuum left by assassinated leaders. The operation drew on Israel's long history of covert actions in Iran, including the 2024 assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the infiltration of Hezbollah's supply chain in Lebanon. By targeting second- and third-tier officials, Israel sought to paralyze Iran's ability to reorganize its military and nuclear programs, with one Israeli official noting that potential successors were "terrified" to assume leadership roles.
Intelligence and Preparation: The Backbone of Success
Israel's ability to execute such a precise and multifaceted operation stemmed from years of meticulous intelligence gathering. The Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence service, had smuggled drones, missiles, and explosive devices into Iran, prepositioning them near critical targets like air defense systems and missile launchers. These assets, combined with real-time tracking of Iranian officials, enabled Israel to achieve strategic surprise. The operation also utilized advanced technologies, including AI models reportedly provided by the United States, to analyze data and pinpoint targets.
The scale of Israel's infiltration is staggering. Reports indicate that Mossad operatives had been operating inside Iran for years, establishing covert bases and exploiting weaknesses in Iran's security apparatus. In November 2024, Ali Larijani, a senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, acknowledged the "serious" problem of Israeli infiltration, a vulnerability that became evident when Israel killed key figures like Quds Force commanders Saeed Izadi and Behnam Shahryari in June 2025.
Casualties and Damage: Iran's Health Ministry reported 224 deaths and over 1,200 injuries by June 15, 2025, with 90% of fatalities identified as civilians. Israel reported 24 deaths from Iranian retaliatory missile strikes, with 390 injuries. The Natanz facility's above-ground enrichment plant was destroyed, while Fordow's underground operations remained partially intact, highlighting the challenges of targeting fortified sites.
Military Engagement: Israel deployed over 200 fighter jets in five waves of strikes, dropping 330 munitions on 100 targets. Iran retaliated with over 270 ballistic missiles, of which 22 evaded Israel's Iron Dome system, causing significant damage in Tel Aviv and Haifa.
Nuclear Program Impact: The IAEA reported that Iran's stockpile of 409 kg of enriched uranium was sufficient for multiple nuclear weapons if further enriched. The strikes damaged Natanz and Isfahan but failed to fully neutralize Fordow, suggesting Iran retains some nuclear capability.
Economic Fallout: The attacks on Iran's oil and gas infrastructure, including a strike on the Shahran oil depot, led to a 2.9% surge in Brent crude futures to $76.37 per barrel, reflecting global economic concerns.
U.S. Involvement and Regional Dynamics
The United States played a complex role in the conflict. While President Donald Trump initially denied direct involvement, he later admitted to prior knowledge of Israel's plans and authorized U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites using B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles. These attacks, launched eight days after Israel's initial strikes, caused "severe damage" to Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, though Pentagon officials cautioned that Iran's nuclear capabilities were not entirely eliminated.
The U.S. also provided defensive support, intercepting Iranian missiles with THAAD systems and deploying the USS Nimitz to the region. However, public opinion in the U.S. was divided, with a poll indicating 53% of Trump voters opposed military intervention. The G7, meeting in Canada in June 2025, issued a statement affirming Israel's right to self-defense but urged restraint to avoid a broader regional conflict.
Iran's allies, including the Houthi movement in Yemen, escalated the conflict by launching missiles at Israel, further complicating the regional landscape. The loss of Iran's key ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in December 2024 weakened its regional influence, leaving Iran increasingly isolated.
Psychological Warfare: A New Frontier
Israel's psychological tactics mark a significant evolution in modern warfare. By directly contacting Iranian officials and leveraging the fear of targeted assassinations, Israel aimed to fracture the regime's cohesion. The strategy drew inspiration from past successes, such as the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah in September 2024, which disrupted the group's leadership structure. The psychological campaign's effectiveness is evident in reports that Khamenei struggled to appoint successors, with potential candidates refusing positions due to fear of Israeli reprisals.
This approach raises ethical and strategic questions. While it achieved short-term disruption, it risks hardening Iran's resolve to pursue nuclear capabilities and retaliate through proxies like the Houthis or Hezbollah remnants. The campaign also underscores the asymmetry of the conflict, with Israel's advanced intelligence and technological capabilities outmatching Iran's compromised defenses.
The Israel-Iran conflict of June 2025 has far-reaching implications. Israel's strikes have set back Iran's nuclear program by months, but not years, as fortified facilities like Fordow remain partially operational. Iran's retaliatory missile strikes, while causing damage in Israel, were largely intercepted, highlighting the effectiveness of Israel's Iron Dome system. However, the civilian toll in both countries has fueled international calls for de-escalation, with leaders like British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urging diplomacy.
The conflict also tests U.S. foreign policy under President Trump, who campaigned on ending Middle Eastern wars but now faces pressure to support Israel. The failure of nuclear negotiations, scheduled for June 2025 in Oman, suggests that diplomatic avenues are closing, increasing the risk of prolonged conflict.
Operation Rising Lion represents a bold and risky escalation in the Israel-Iran shadow war. By combining military strikes with psychological warfare, Israel has demonstrated its intelligence prowess and willingness to confront Iran's nuclear ambitions head-on. However, the operation's success is tempered by the resilience of Iran's fortified nuclear sites and the potential for regional escalation. As the world watches, the delicate balance of power in the Middle East hangs in the balance, with the specter of a broader conflict looming large.
