**A significant military operation by Israel against Iran signals a culmination of years of intelligence work focusing on nuclear sites and key military figures.**
**Israel Launches Major Offensive on Iran After Years of Intelligence Gathering**
**Israel Launches Major Offensive on Iran After Years of Intelligence Gathering**
**Extensive covert operations pave the way for strategic strikes targeting Iran's nuclear capabilities and military leaders.**
In a pivotal move, Israel executed a substantial strike against Iran, with operations facilitated by extensive intelligence efforts that have been years in the making. According to three Israeli officials familiar with the operations, this offensive was the result of meticulous surveillance and intelligence gathering concerning Iran's nuclear facilities and prominent military personnel.
The mission, titled “With the Strength of a Lion” and developed through a collaboration between Israeli military intelligence and the Mossad, sought crucial data on the locations and movements of high-ranking Iranian officials and scientists. Reports indicate that at least four senior military commands were targeted during this operation. Officials opted to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the information shared.
Israel's intelligence community has been deeply involved in a series of operations aimed at disrupting Iran and its allied forces. In a notable incident in 2020, Israel successfully assassinated Iran's leading nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, using a remote-controlled weapon. This event coincided with the American drone strike that killed Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, the head of Iran’s security and intelligence apparatus.
Further actions included the 2022 shooting of Col. Sayad Khodayee by motorcycle assailants, which Israel later confirmed to the U.S., and the similar operation that led to the death of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Israel has also been successful in infiltrating Hezbollah, Iran's primary proxy in the region. This was evident in September 2024 when Israeli forces executed coordinated attacks on Hezbollah operatives, heightening tensions and resulting in significant casualties.
In Friday's assault, Israel concentrated on multiple Iranian targets, including nuclear enrichment facilities, air defense systems, and missile storage locations, particularly focusing on the facility in Natanz. The full extent of the impact and damage caused by these strikes is still being assessed. The latest offensive underscores Israel's ongoing commitment to curtailing Iran's nuclear ambitions and military influence in the region.
