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.
As I sit here in Israel, a free Jew in our eternal homeland, let it be heard loud and clear:
Israel–Iran Conflict Escalation | Operation “Am K’Lavi”
Due to the security situation, Lithuanian yeshiva head Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch instructed that all educational institutions must fully comply with Home Front Command directives and cease all studies.
“One must adhere to the authorities' guidelines and not open educational institutions,” he stated, referring to all haredi educational institutions.
Early on Friday morning, prayer gatherings were held in major yeshivot, including Ponovezh, Hebron, and others, praying for the success of the operation against Iran and the safety of the people of Israel.
Earlier, Rabbi David Stav, Chairman of the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization, instructed the public to pray alone this Shabbat (Sabbath) — without a minyan (qurom of ten men necessary for prayer).
“The people of Israel are in a state of emergency. We pray and strengthen the IDF soldiers and the leaders of the state in their fight to remove the existential threat from the State of Israel. This emergency obligates us all to fully obey Home Front Command instructions. If the restriction on gatherings remains in effect, it also applies to synagogue prayers. A minyan is a commendable practice, but saving lives overrides Shabbat,” he said.
He further added: “The radio should be left on the Gal Shaket station to receive updates if necessary. Do not turn on the television, radio, or surf the internet out of curiosity.”
Gal Shaked is a radio station that broadcasts only emergency messages, allowing those who observe the Sabbath and holidays to receive critical updates without additional news.
US President Donald Trump on Friday responded to Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, explaining that Iran "just couldn't get" a deal "done."
"I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal," he wrote on his Truth Social social media platform. "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. 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! There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end."
Trump added, "Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. God Bless You All!"
Trump spoke to Fox News' Bret Baier on Thursday night, commenting that he knew of the Israeli strikes in advance and that there were no surprises, but stressed the US was not involved militarily.
The President also expressed hope that Iran would still negotiate with the US.
"Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see. There are several people in leadership that will not be coming back," he said.
Asked about possible retaliation by Iran, Trump said, "We will defend Israel if necessary."
In a post on Truth Social, he reiterated his commitment to a diplomatic resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue.
"We remain committed to a Diplomatic Resolution to the Iran Nuclear Issue! My entire Administration has been directed to negotiate with Iran. They could be a Great Country, but they first must completely give up hopes of obtaining a Nuclear Weapon. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" the post read.
The Mossad’s operational commando unit was documented while deploying precision strike systems intended to target Iran’s air defense systems.
Mossad's commando unit was in Iran itself!
An Israeli security source revealed dramatic new details on Friday morning regarding the extensive Israeli strike against strategic infrastructure deep within Iran. According to the source, the operation - codenamed “Am KeLavi” (literally "Lion's Might," but codenamed in English "Rising Lion") - was years in the making and executed through close cooperation between the IDF, the Mossad, and Israel’s defense industries.
In preparation for the operation, the IDF and Mossad worked side by side to assemble detailed intelligence dossiers on senior Iranian defense officials and nuclear scientists, enabling precise targeted assassinations. Concurrently, a covert campaign was launched to neutralize Iran’s strategic missile array through a combination of airstrikes and deep-cover operations on the ground.
According to the source, in recent years, the Mossad, in conjunction with the IDF and leveraging advanced technologies from Israel’s defense sector, carried out a series of covert sabotage missions within the heart of Iran. These actions directly degraded Iran’s air defense capabilities and strategic missile systems.
The covert campaign involved the activation of three distinct and complex operational systems:
1. Commando Teams Inside Iran:
Special Mossad units infiltrated central Iran and pre-positioned precision-guided weapon systems near Iranian surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries. As the Israeli Air Force launched its aerial assault, these systems were activated and launched precision strikes simultaneously, striking key targets with exceptional accuracy.
2. Vehicle-Based Strike Systems:
To further neutralize Iran’s air defense systems - which posed a threat to Israeli aircraft - the Mossad covertly deployed attack technologies embedded within civilian vehicles across Iran. When the operation commenced, these concealed platforms launched powerful munitions that destroyed their assigned targets: Iran’s air defense infrastructure.
3. Covert Drone Bases:
The Mossad established a secret base of explosive-laden drones, smuggled into Iran long before the strike. During the Israeli offensive, these drones were launched toward Iranian surface-to-surface missile launchers located at the Esfajabad base near Tehran - a strategic site posing one of the greatest threats to both Israeli military and civilian targets - and successfully destroyed them.
The senior source emphasized that the operation "required bold and sophisticated planning, groundbreaking strategic thinking, and intricate deception." He added: “This mission - made possible by accurate intelligence, cutting-edge technology, and the brave execution by operatives on the ground - delivered a painful blow to Iran’s strategic capabilities and a clear message: Israel will not allow its enemies to acquire weapons of mass destruction."
Late last night the IDF began what it said would be several days of airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear program and associated assets.
Good for Israel, acting as it has before (the 1967 war, the takedown of Saddam Hussein’s nuclear program in 1981 and strikes on Syria in 2007) to preempt a clear existential threat to its continued existence.
No serious player on the world stage can honestly deny that Tehran has been on its final run gaining nuclear weapons, and while some will quibble about whether the regime intended to use nukes to destroy “the Little Satan” (as it has now called Israel for five decades), Jerusalem could hardly afford to take the chance.
Iran state media report the deaths of multiple top nuclear scientists, as well as of Gen. Hossein Salami, the chief of the Revolutionary Guards — the central force behind all Tehran’s expansionist ambitions.
Tehran will hit back hard, and the IDF can’t be remotely confident it will intercept every drone and missile as it has the last two times. Israel must expect to hurt, hoping that the pain is survivable and simply the necessary price for fending off extinction.
The rest of the Middle East, indeed the world, gets to free-ride on Israel’s bold self-defense: The IDF is moving to take out what would’ve been a menace to everyone else, including those foolish enough to think Iran is an ally.
President Trump did his best to avoid this, striving to negotiate the verifiable end of Iran’s nuclear quest. Tehran declined, betting it could beat the clock. Fact is, Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 terror assault on Israel and refusal to surrender as the Gaza war steadily destroyed the entire terror group, plus the attacks on Israel from Iran’s proxies across the region, should be seen largely as Tehran’s efforts to create a window for its final nuclear run.
Iran’s strategy failed; we can only pray that Israel’s strikes do everything they need to.
Several Arab nations on Friday condemned Israel’s aerial assault on Iranian nuclear and military sites, warning that the operation risks inflaming tensions and undermining regional stability.
Saudi Arabia issued a formal denunciation of the attack, calling it a violation of international norms and Iranian sovereignty.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Israeli aggressions against the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran, which undermine its sovereignty and security and constitute a clear violation of international laws and norms,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Oman, a key Gulf mediator in nuclear negotiations between Iran and Western powers, described the strike as a dangerous escalation.
“Oman considers this act a dangerous, reckless escalation, representing a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and principles of international law,” the Omani Foreign Ministry said. “The Sultanate of Oman holds Israel responsible for this escalation and its consequences, and calls upon the international community to adopt a firm and unequivocal stance to halt this dangerous course of action.”
While Jordan and Iraq did not issue formal condemnations as of Friday morning, both countries responded by closing their airspace. The aviation restrictions were cited as precautionary but widely interpreted as a signal of concern over potential regional fallout. Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority suspended flights over several provinces, and Jordan’s aviation authority cited “developments in the security situation.”
The Israeli operation, involving more than 200 aircraft according to regional military sources, reportedly targeted Iran’s Natanz enrichment facility and military installations in Esfahan and elsewhere. Iran’s government confirmed casualties and infrastructure damage, vowing retaliation.
The United Arab Emirates expressed “strong condemnation” over the Israeli strikes on Iranian territory. The statement, issued by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called for “maximum restraint” and warned that escalation “poses a serious threat to regional stability.” The UAE stressed the importance of respecting sovereignty and pursuing dialogue over confrontation.
Qatar described the attack as a “blatant violation of Iranian sovereignty” and urging the international community to step in and prevent further escalation. The Qatari Foreign Ministry called for a return to calm and avoiding actions that could drag the region into war.
The Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum, is set to arrive in Israel this week for his first visit in ten years.
The Rebbe will travel on a special charter flight, accompanied by thousands of Hasidim from the United States and other countries.
The visit will include several key events, such as the inauguration of a new girls' educational facility in Bnei Brak and a ceremony related to the construction of the Hasidic compound in Jerusalem.
The highlight of the trip will be a special Shabbat in Meron, where thousands of followers from Israel and abroad are expected to gather. Organizers have begun extensive preparations and have pre-booked over 80% of the available apartments and guesthouses in Meron to prevent price hikes and logistical disruptions.
In a letter to followers, organizers urged Hasidim not to make independent lodging arrangements and to leave all coordination to the official planning team.
Israel closed its airspace early Friday morning in conjunction with the launch of Operation Rising Lion, targeting Iran’s nuclear program.
Ben Gurion Airport has been fully evacuated, and all flights have been canceled.
El Al announced a suspension of all flights to and from Israel, stating: "We apologize for the inconvenience and hope for better and quieter days soon."
Arkia reported that two of its flights were diverted to Larnaca—Flight 992 from New York and another from Croatia. "Passengers will be transferred to hotels until further notice," the airline said.
Israir issued the following statement: "Passengers scheduled to depart from Ben Gurion Airport are requested to remain at home and not come to the airport. Updates regarding the reopening of Israeli airspace will be provided at least six hours in advance via media channels. Once reopened, updated flight schedules will be available on Israir’s website and the Israel Airports Authority website."
IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin on Friday morning provided an update on the IDF strike in Iran, in which several senior figures were eliminated and nuclear facilities were targeted.
Defrin confirmed that among those killed were top leaders in Iran's military, including the Iranian Chief of Staff, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, and the head of the military emergency command.
Iran has confirmed the deaths of six nuclear scientists in the strikes
He revealed that during the night, more than 200 fighter jets of the Israel Air Force attacked over 100 targets across Iran with precise intelligence guidance from the Intelligence Directorate, including hideouts of senior officials in the Iranian military.
In the attacks, the three highest military commanders of the Iranian regime were eliminated:
* Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Mohammed Bagheri
* Commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami
* Commander of Khatam al-Anbiya (Emergency Headquarters), Gholam Ali Rashid
“We launched the operation at the most appropriate time — we identified that the regime was racing toward a nuclear bomb,” said Defrin, revealing that Israeli intelligence recommended the strike after discovering Iran was advancing a secret nuclear weapons program.
“Intelligence shows that the Iranian regime had established a covert nuclear project and was working to acquire nuclear arms in the near future. According to the IDF, senior officials from Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas were coordinating precision strikes from across the axis — intended to pave the way for an invasion into Israeli territory,” Defrin stated.
American security officials report that Israel has issued an unprecedented warning in recent hours to three Arab countries — Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria — regarding potential involvement in a regional conflict on Iran’s side in the event of an escalation.
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