Israel launches a large-scale strike against Iran: military anatomy of the operation
13 June 10:17
ANALYSIS
On the night of June 13, 2025 , Israel carried out the largest military operation against Iran in decades. More than 200 warplanes attacked more than a hundred targets in the Islamic Republic, including nuclear infrastructure, missile plants, and military headquarters. Simultaneously, Israeli intelligence agency Mossad conducted a series of sabotage attacks that disrupted Iran’s air defense system and missile industry logistics. "Komersant Ukrainian" tried to understand the military aspects of this special operation.
A blow to Iran’s nuclear heart
The central target of the attack was the Natanz nuclear complex, one of the key nodes of Iran’s uranium enrichment program. Part of the underground infrastructure was damaged, but the deeper tunnels remained intact. The attack also hit facilities in Fordow, Hondab and Khorramabad, regions where, according to the IAEA, critical uranium enrichment facilities and research centers are located.
Iranian state media confirmed the deaths of several high-ranking officials, including the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, General Hossein Salami, Chief of the General Staff Mohammad Bagheri, and one of the leading nuclear physicists, Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani. Israel officially stated that the operation was preventive and aimed at “stopping the active phase of nuclear weapons development.”
Where does the threat come from?
According to the latest IAEA reports, Iran possesses more than 400 kg of uranium enriched to 60%, the critical limit at which it is technically possible to quickly bring the material to a level suitable for a nuclear warhead. Israeli intelligence analysts have repeatedly pointed out that the existing stockpile could allow for the production of up to 15 nuclear weapons.
In this context, Israel decided to act without waiting for diplomatic efforts to stop Iran’s program. According to experts, the previously started negotiations between the United States and Iran in Oman have lost any chance of continuation – at least in the short term.
Tactics: an attack without a deep breakthrough
The airstrikes were carried out in five waves using about 330 munitions. Refueling planes were used to increase the range. However, despite the scale of the attack, Israel did not use super-heavy penetrating bombs (like the American MOAB), which are capable of destroying objects at depths of more than 80 meters. This was the technical and political limit of the operation.
Mossad’s parallel campaign made it much more difficult to coordinate Iran’s response. According to intelligence sources, the Israeli tactics were based on maximum precision and synchronization, aimed at temporarily disabling critical links in Iranian defense and missile logistics.
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Limiting the effect and the risk of escalation
Despite the damage, key deep enrichment facilities were not destroyed. This means that the Iranian program remains technically viable. In response, Iran has already announced the launch of more than 100 drones and missiles at Israeli targets, but all of them were intercepted or did not cause significant damage.
The United States, while expressing support for Israel, limited itself to providing security guarantees for its own military and did not directly participate in the operation. The US strategy is currently focused on preventing a large-scale escalation involving third parties.
At the same time, Israel declared a state of emergency, mobilized reservists, and closed its airspace. Such actions indicate that Tel Aviv is preparing for a possible second wave of conflict.
Geopolitical moment: a window of opportunity
The operation was carried out at a favorable geopolitical moment for Israel. Iran has lost its regional initiative: Hezbollah is weakened, Syrian positions are destabilized, and Hamas has suffered serious losses. This has reduced the risks of immediate coordination of strikes against Israel by Tehran’s allies.
At the same time, the region remains extremely explosive. The closure of airspace over Iraq and Jordan, the threat to U.S. bases, and a potential Iranian response in the Middle East could trigger a new round of conflict.
What will happen next?
Judging by the rhetoric of the Israeli leadership, this attack is not the last. According to officials, the operations may be repeated “as many times as necessary” to eliminate the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program. At the same time, Iran’s technical capabilities allow it to adapt quickly, and by the end of June, new weapons are expected to be put into service, including Qassem Bassir missiles with a range of more than 1,200 kilometers.
Israel’s air strike on Iran was a turning point in the regional dynamics of the Middle East. It is not only a show of force, but also a desperate attempt to change the strategic balance before Iran crosses the “point of no return” in its nuclear program.
However, without the destruction of deeply hidden facilities, without cooperation with other allies, and without a diplomatic strategy, this operation can only remain a powerful, but not a final signal. It is almost certain that “to be continued”.
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