On June 13, in the wee hours of a regular weekday, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched an intense and coordinated air campaign targeting over 100 strategic sites across Iran – including its hardline nuclear enrichment facilities in different areas and Tehran’s military infrastructure site, using an estimated 200 fighter jets. Operation Rising Lion, as the term has been coined by PM Netanyahu, aims to eradicate Iran’s growing progression toward nuclear weapons.
The operation has reportedly killed several senior Iranian military figures, including IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) Chief Hossein Salami and Major General Mohammad Bagheri, along with some nuclear scientists. Meanwhile, as of June 13 late evening, Iran has responded with over 150 ballistic missiles and more than 100 drones aimed at Israel in a counter-strike mission.
Amidst all this, US President Donald Trump, and his Republican government cheered Israel for carrying out long-threatened strikes on Iran, but several people have also accused Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately damaging talks to resolve the question of Tehran’s nuclear program peacefully. This attack has been appreciated by Donald Trump, as it seems to put an end to weeks of fruitless negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.
The multiparty agreement, which was once negotiated in 2015 during Barack Obama’s presidency was tried again by Trump’s Republican party, but did not work out. The terror attack has unfolded at a particularly tense moment in the United States itself. Due to the ongoing civil unrest and crises regarding the immigration laws, Trump has ordered his federalized national guard troops and deployed US marines on to the streets of Los Angeles in order to safeguard the immigration authorities.
The US military confirmed the first known marine detention of a civilian in LA, California amid the unrest as demonstrations continue to escalate further in these protests. Over 200 guards deployed, as Donald Trump faces severe backlash since his return to power.
With the internal situation getting worse in USA, and the rising tensions in the Middle Eastern region – times to come in the future will have widespread impact on all major economies and nations, affecting the stock market indexes too. The intervention of major developed giants such as United States, Russia, China, India and others will play a significant role in the days ahead.
Helene Elliott is the senior reporter for News Raise. She covers Science news. She also has a keen interest in photojournalism. Helene holds a nomination for the prestigious Red Smith Award. She is married to author Dennis D’Agostino, a former publicist with the New York Mets.
