In a stunning demonstration of strategic cunning, Israel’s overnight strike on Iran was executed under the cloak of what analysts are calling the most complex and effective deception operation in the country’s modern history. The operation—now dubbed Rising Lion—succeeded in catching Tehran completely off guard, targeting nuclear facilities, senior military command, and missile bases deep within Iran’s territory.
The brilliance of the deception lay in its seamless integration into Israel’s actual political climate. For weeks, the country was absorbed in high-pitched domestic debates over conscription reforms, government stability, and rumors of early elections. As the media fixated on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s potential political collapse, military preparations were accelerating in complete secrecy.
At the heart of the smokescreen was an intentional manipulation of diplomatic optics. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Mossad Director David Barnea, both expected to be in Washington for consultations, remained in Israel—deliberately fueling speculation that last-ditch negotiations were in play. Reports about U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s travel to Oman for talks with Iran were quietly amplified to support the diplomatic charade. Israeli intelligence sources even leaked details about anticipated meetings between Witkoff and Israeli officials that were never actually scheduled.
Compounding the deception was Netanyahu’s own public calendar, which included his son Avner’s wedding and a personal vacation in the Galilee. Military planners leveraged these seemingly incompatible commitments to further lull Iran and the international community into a false sense of calm.
Behind the curtain, however, Israel’s most senior decision-makers had already signed the operation order. A tightly held circle of officials—restricted even among the top military brass—ensured complete operational silence. Unlike in previous missions, there were no troop movements, no notable aircraft transfers, and no alerts to journalists or foreign diplomats that might telegraph an impending strike.
Then, on the night of June 12 into the early hours of June 13, Israel struck.
The results were immediate and devastating. Israeli defense officials, speaking anonymously to foreign media, said the military’s top targets included the Iranian Chief of Staff, senior nuclear scientists, and multiple Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities. Over 100 strikes were reported in Tehran alone. Key installations—including the Natanz nuclear enrichment site, the Imam Ali missile base, and an IRGC weapons depot in Khorramabad—were hit. Iranian air defenses, including the prized Russian-made S-300 missile system, were reportedly neutralized in the opening moments.
As reports of explosions rocked not only Iran but also parts of Baghdad, speculation mounted that U.S. aircraft tankers had supported Israeli jets mid-air, despite the White House maintaining official ambiguity. Still, multiple signals—including the recent evacuation orders for U.S. diplomatic staff across the region—pointed to prior American awareness, if not explicit coordination.
“This was a point of no return,” said one Israeli military official. “Iran’s nuclear program was on the verge of becoming untouchable. We simply couldn’t wait any longer.”
The mission’s success was not just tactical, but psychological. After the trauma of Oct. 7, 2023—when Hamas’ surprise assault shattered Israel’s sense of security—Operation Rising Lion has restored some measure of deterrence, demonstrating that Israel can still seize the initiative.
But military officials are not naïve about what comes next.
Iran is expected to retaliate, likely via proxies such as Hezbollah or Shiite militias in Syria and Iraq. Israeli Home Front Command has already activated emergency measures, closing schools, canceling public events, and instructing citizens to remain near bomb shelters. Airspace remains closed, and the nation is bracing for missile or drone attacks in the coming days.
Still, many observers agree: by disguising war preparations as political chaos, Israel outmaneuvered its most dangerous adversary.
“The Iranians saw what they wanted to see,” a retired Israeli intelligence officer told Israel Hayom. “And by the time they understood what was happening, it was too late.”
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