17 Oct 2026
Israel and Iran on the Brink of Full-Scale War: Operation "Rising Lion" Begins
On
the night of June 13, Israel launched a massive preemptive strike against
Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure. The operation, code-named “Rising Lion”,
involved up to 200 fighter jets and drones targeting facilities in Natanz,
Isfahan, Tehran, and other key locations.
According to media reports, the strikes resulted in the
deaths of senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — Hossein Salami
and Mohammad Bagheri
— as well as several leading Iranian nuclear scientists. Israel stated that the
operation prevented an “imminent nuclear threat,” closing its airspace and
mobilizing reservists in response.
In retaliation, Iran declared a state of emergency, closed
its airspace, and suspended flights through Tehran’s main airport. Within
hours, over 100 combat drones were launched toward Israeli
territory, while U.S. and Israeli intelligence reported that Iran is preparing
a possible barrage of up to 800 ballistic missiles from 72 launch sites.
Amid the escalation, oil prices surged, and global stock markets responded
with sharp declines. Leaders of the UN, US, EU, and Japan called for immediate de-escalation, while
several countries began evacuating their citizens from the region.
Experts warn that the world stands on the edge of a new large-scale Middle Eastern conflict, with potentially severe consequences — from disruptions in global oil supplies to a renewed nuclear arms race. The situation is evolving by the hour, and further strikes remain likely in the coming days.
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