Taking the podium at his first press conference since deciding to strike Iran’s nuclear program, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday read out Israel’s achievements in Operation Rising Lion.
The list is impressive. Israeli forces have taken out Iran’s military leadership, hit hundreds of ballistic missiles and dozens of launchers, wiped out half of Iran’s UAVs, and established air superiority in western Iran.
On the nuclear front, Netanyahu also has much he can point to. Israel has killed 10 senior nuclear scientists, and promises to reach more. It has caused extensive damage to key nuclear sites as well.
But – as Israel has learned in Gaza – impressive tactical achievements do not automatically amount to operational success, and damage to some core elements of Iran’s nuclear program does not necessarily mean Israel has set it back very far.
Published originally on June 17, 2025.
Read the full article at the Times of Israel.
