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My Article published on “The EurasianTimes” website on 17 Jun 25.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n On June 13, 2025, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a bold and sophisticated military campaign targeting Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities, missile bases, and key military personnel. The operation, which struck sites like Natanz, Fordow, and Arak, and killed high-ranking figures such as IRGC Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami, was a direct application of the Begin Doctrine\u2014Israel\u2019s strategic policy of pre-emptively denying adversaries the ability to acquire nuclear weapons. Named after Prime Minister Menachem Begin, who authorised the 1981 strike on Iraq\u2019s Osirak reactor, the doctrine has shaped Israel\u2019s approach to regional threats for over four decades. This article examines Operation Rising Lion as a continuation of the Begin Doctrine, tracing its evolution from Osirak to Natanz, analysing its strategic execution, and exploring its implications for Israel\u2019s security and regional stability.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Begin Doctrine<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Begin Doctrine is a cornerstone of Israeli strategic policy, centered on the pre-emptive prevention of adversaries, particularly in the Middle East, from acquiring nuclear weapons that could pose an existential threat to Israel. Named after former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, the doctrine emerged following Israel\u2019s airstrike on Iraq\u2019s Osirak nuclear reactor on June 7, 1981, known as Operation Opera. It reflects Israel\u2019s commitment to ensuring its survival in a region surrounded by hostile states, some of which have historically pursued nuclear capabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n Key Principles of the Begin Doctrine include the following:-<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Historical Precedents: Osirak and Orchard<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Operation Opera (1981)<\/u>. On June 7, 1981, eight Israeli F-16s, escorted by F-15s, flew 1,100 kilometers to destroy Iraq\u2019s Osirak reactor, a French-built facility suspected of producing plutonium for nuclear weapons. The strike was meticulously planned, relying on intelligence from Mossad and defectors. Despite international outrage, including a UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel, the operation delayed Iraq\u2019s nuclear program significantly. It established the Begin Doctrine as a proactive strategy, emphasising Israel\u2019s willingness to act alone to ensure its survival.<\/span><\/p>\n Operation Orchard (2007)<\/u>. On September 6, 2007, Israel struck Syria\u2019s Al-Kibar nuclear reactor in Deir ez-Zor, believed to be a North Korean-designed plutonium facility. The operation, kept secret for months, involved precision airstrikes by F-16s and F-15s, supported by cyberwarfare and Mossad intelligence. Unlike Osirak, Orchard faced minimal international backlash, partly due to Syria\u2019s secrecy and the operation\u2019s surgical nature. It reinforced the Begin Doctrine\u2019s adaptability, incorporating advanced technology and covert tactics to neutralise emerging threats.<\/span><\/p>\n Both operations demonstrated Israel\u2019s ability to combine intelligence, air superiority, and strategic surprise, setting the stage for Operation Rising Lion\u2019s complexity.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Operation Rising Lion: A Modern Application<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Launched on June 13, 2025, Operation Rising Lion targeted Iran\u2019s nuclear and military infrastructure, reflecting the Begin Doctrine\u2019s evolution in scale, technology, and geopolitical context. Iran\u2019s nuclear program, by 2025, posed an unprecedented challenge, with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reporting enough enriched uranium for up to 15 nuclear bombs. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the operation as a \u201c12th-hour\u201d necessity to prevent a \u201cnuclear holocaust,\u201d echoing Begin\u2019s rhetoric from 1981.<\/span><\/p>\n Strategic Execution<\/u>. Operation Rising Lion was a multi-domain assault, integrating air, cyber, and covert operations. Over 200 Israeli aircraft, including F-35s, struck key nuclear sites, the Natanz Enrichment Complex, the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, the Arak Heavy Water Facility and the Isfahan Uranium Conversion Facility. Missile bases like Asfajaabad, IRGC command centers, and air defence systems were hit. Mossad-activated drones and smuggled munitions neutralised launchers and radars, ensuring air superiority. The operation killed key figures, including IRGC leaders Hossein Salami, Mohammad Bagheri, and Amir Ali Hajizadeh, and nuclear scientists like Fereydoon Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, crippling Iran\u2019s command and expertise. Mossad\u2019s covert operations, including a secret drone base near Tehran and disinformation about diplomatic rifts, misled Iran\u2019s leadership into underestimating the attack.<\/span><\/p>\n Scale and Impact<\/u>. \u00a0Operation Rising Lion was unprecedented in scope, targeting over 100 sites with 330 munitions. Iran reported 78\u2013128 deaths, including 20 children, and over 320 injuries, particularly in Tehran\u2019s residential areas, sparking international criticism. The IAEA confirmed no radiation leaks, indicating precise strikes. The operation delayed Iran\u2019s nuclear program, damaged its military infrastructure, and disrupted its chain of command, reinforcing Israel\u2019s regional dominance.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Iran\u2019s Response: Operation True Promise III<\/u>. Iran\u2019s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed \u201csevere punishment,\u201d describing Israel\u2019s actions as a \u201cdoomed aggression based on a grave miscalculation.\u201d\u00a0 Iran retaliated with Operation True Promise III (Persian: Va’de-ye S\u0101deq III), which began on the evening of June 13, 2025, approximately 18 hours after Israel\u2019s initial strikes. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) led the operation, supported by Iran\u2019s armed forces and possibly proxy groups like Hezbollah, the Houthis, and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. Iran fired \u201cdozens\u201d to \u201chundreds\u201d of ballistic missiles and drones, targeting Israeli military centres, airbases, and strategic sites, including the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv. Specific targets included Nevatim, Hatzerim, and Tel Nof airbases, which house advanced Israeli fighter jets like F-35s and F-15s. The operation involved waves of attacks, with ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones aimed at overwhelming Israel\u2019s multilayered air defences, including the Iron Dome and Arrow missile defence systems. While Israel\u2019s Iron Dome and Arrow systems, aided by U.S., British, and French forces, intercepted most projectiles, some strikes caused damage in Tel Aviv, injuring 21\u201395 people. Iran\u2019s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called the strikes a \u201ccrushing response\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n Analytical Perspectives<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Continuity and Evolution of the Begin Doctrine<\/u>. Operation Rising Lion reflects the Begin Doctrine’s continuity and evolution. Like Osirak and Orchard, Rising Lion was a unilateral, preemptive strike to deny an adversary nuclear capability. Israel acted without U.S. involvement, prioritising national security over international approval, and justified the operation as existential. The operation\u2019s scale\u2014over 200 aircraft and 100 targets\u2014dwarfs previous strikes. It integrated advanced technologies (AI-assisted targeting, drones, cyberwarfare) and Mossad\u2019s covert infrastructure, showcasing Israel\u2019s technological edge. Unlike Osirak\u2019s single-target focus or Orchard\u2019s secrecy, Rising Lion was a broad assault on nuclear, military, and leadership targets, reflecting the complexity of Iran\u2019s threat.<\/span><\/p>\n Strategic and Ethical Challenges<\/u>. The Begin Doctrine\u2019s application in Operation Rising Lion raises significant issues.<\/span><\/p>\n Geopolitical Impact<\/u>. Operation Rising Lion has transformed the Middle East\u2019s strategic landscape. By eliminating key Iranian leaders and damaging critical infrastructure, Israel has significantly weakened Iran\u2019s regional influence, though its proxy groups, such as Hezbollah and the Houthis, remain active. Global oil prices have surged 8% amid fears of supply disruptions, sending ripples through international markets. The United States backed Israel\u2019s defensive measures but called for restraint, while Russia offered to mediate and Saudi Arabia adopted a cautious approach, highlighting the region\u2019s complex dynamics. The breakdown of scheduled U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman underscores the diplomatic fallout of Israel\u2019s Begin Doctrine.<\/span><\/p>\n Israel\u2019s Strategic Blind Spot: Pakistan\u2019s Nuclear Program<\/u>. \u00a0Israel\u2019s Begin Doctrine prioritises pre-emptive strikes against adversaries developing nuclear weapons, yet Pakistan\u2019s nuclear program, successful by 1998, never prompted Israeli action. This stems from geopolitical and strategic factors. Unlike Iraq, Syria, or Iran, Pakistan lies outside Israel\u2019s immediate Middle Eastern sphere of influence, reducing its perceived threat. Pakistan\u2019s nuclear ambitions were primarily driven by rivalry with India, not hostility toward Israel. Diplomatic relations, though limited, existed indirectly, and Pakistan\u2019s leadership, including Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Pervez Musharraf, avoided framing Israel as a primary enemy. Israel\u2019s intelligence, via Mossad, likely assessed Pakistan\u2019s program as India-focused, not aimed at Tel Aviv. Additionally, U.S. influence, a mutual ally, restrained escalation, as Pakistan\u2019s nuclear development was tacitly accepted to counter India. Thus, Israel conserved resources for proximate threats like Iran, aligning with the Begin Doctrine\u2019s focus on existential risks.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Conclusion<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n From Osirak to Natanz, the Begin Doctrine has guided Israel\u2019s strategy to prevent nuclear proliferation among its adversaries. With its unprecedented scale and technological sophistication, Operation Rising Lion represents the doctrine\u2019s most ambitious application yet. By targeting Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities, missile bases, and leadership, Israel reaffirmed its commitment to existential security, even at the cost of regional escalation and international criticism. However, the operation\u2019s success in delaying Iran\u2019s nuclear ambitions comes with challenges: fortified sites like Fordow, retaliatory risks, and ethical questions about civilian casualties. As of this date, the Israel-Iran conflict remains volatile, with the Begin Doctrine both a shield for Israel\u2019s survival and a catalyst for regional tensions. The doctrine\u2019s future will depend on Israel\u2019s ability to adapt its pre-emptive strategy to an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Please Add Value to the write-up with your views on the subject.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
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