What was Israel targeting inside Iran? | BBC News

Key Concepts:

• Operation Rising Lion: Israeli military operation targeting Iranian nuclear sites and military leaders.
• High Value Targets (HVTs): Key individuals or infrastructure critical to the enemy's capabilities.
• IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps): Iran's elite military unit.
• Shahed Drone Program: Iranian drone program, known for supplying drones to Russia.
• Natanz: Iran's main uranium enrichment facility.
• Bomb Damage Assessment (BDA): Evaluation of damage caused by an attack, often using satellite imagery.
• IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency): International organization monitoring nuclear activities.
• Ballistic Missile Program: Iran's program to develop and deploy ballistic missiles.
• F-35 Fighter: Stealth fighter aircraft used by the IDF.
• RCS (Radar Cross-Section): Measure of an object's detectability by radar.
• SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defense): Military action to neutralize enemy air defenses.
• Iron Dome: Israeli air defense system.
• S-300: Russian-made anti-aircraft missile system used by Iran.
• Flight Radar 24: Software used to track civilian air traffic.
• Transponder: Device on aircraft that transmits identification and location data.
• Non-Proliferation Obligations: International agreements to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
• Contingency Planning (COMPLAN): Military planning for potential scenarios.
• Fordow: Iranian secondary uranium enrichment site.
• Arak: Iranian heavy water facility.
• Bushehr: Iran's only nuclear power plant.
• Enriched Uranium: Uranium with an increased concentration of the isotope U-235.

1. Operation Rising Lion: Israeli Strikes on Iran

• Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, targeting Iranian military targets, including nuclear sites and military leaders.
• The operation was initiated in response to perceived threats to Israel's survival.
• The strikes resulted in the deaths of several Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists.
• Iranian state media reported civilian casualties, including children, but these figures have not been independently verified.

2. Targeted Individuals: High Value Targets (HVTs)

• The IDF targeted high-value individuals within the Iranian military and nuclear programs.
• Hussein Salami: Chief of the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), was killed in an airstrike.
• The chief of the Iranian air force, regarded as the architect of the Iranian Shahed drone program, was also targeted and killed.
• Several nuclear scientists in the Tehran region were also targeted.
• The elimination of these individuals is expected to significantly impact Iran's military planning and drone development capabilities.

3. Targeted Infrastructure: Nuclear Facilities

• The primary infrastructure target was the Natanz uranium enrichment facility.
• Satellite imagery (BDA - Bomb Damage Assessment) indicates severe damage to the facility.
• The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) has confirmed the damage, but specific details are still under investigation.
• Other targeted sites included military bases near the Iraqi border (Tabriz, Piranshahr, and Kamyaran), likely associated with ballistic missile facilities and radar sites.

4. Impact on Iran's Capabilities

• The strikes are expected to significantly hinder Iran's ballistic missile program.
• Iran relies on engines from North Korea and sodium perchlorate from China (used in solid-fuel propellant).
• Disruptions to these supply chains will impede Iran's ability to redevelop and re-energize its ballistic missile program.

5. Execution of the Attack: Airpower and Tactics

• The operation involved over 200 Israeli Defense Force (IDF) aircraft in five waves of strikes.
• F-35 Fighters: Used for their stealth capabilities (low RCS - Radar Cross-Section), allowing them to approach targets undetected.
• F-15 and F-16 Fighters: Carried cruise missiles for deep strikes, reducing risk to pilots and aircraft.
• The attack employed SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defense) tactics to neutralize Iranian surface-to-air missile systems.

6. Iranian Air Defense Systems

• Iran possesses a layered air defense system, but it is not as capable as Israel's Iron Dome.
• S-300: Russian-made anti-aircraft missile system with a range of approximately 200 km.
• Tactical Hunter: Middle-range system with a range of approximately 120 km.
• KOAD 15: Innermost system with a range of approximately 75 km.
• The IDF's SEAD operations aimed to target and neutralize these systems.

7. Flight Paths and Airspace Management

• Analysis of flight radar data suggests that the IDF likely used Iraqi airspace to access Iranian targets.
• Iraqi and Iranian airspace were cleared of civilian air traffic during the operation to minimize risk.
• Flight Radar 24 data showed the absence of civilian aircraft over Iran and Iraq during the strikes.

8. Motivations and Planning

• The strikes were likely prompted by a combination of factors, including Iran's failure to comply with non-proliferation obligations and long-term contingency planning.
• The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran had failed to comply with its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in two decades.
• The US and Israel have been conducting contingency planning (COMPLAN) for potential military action against Iran for some time.

9. Iranian Nuclear Facilities: Overview

• Iran's nuclear facilities are extensive and spread across the country.
• Natanz: Main uranium enrichment facility, targeted in the airstrikes.
• Fordow: Secondary enrichment site, more fortified and heavily defended.
• Arak: Heavy water facility, capable of producing plutonium.
• Bushehr: Iran's only nuclear power plant, uses enriched uranium from Russia.

10. Nuclear Weapon Capabilities: Israel and Iran

• Israel maintains a policy of nuclear ambiguity, neither confirming nor denying the existence of a nuclear arsenal.
• It is widely believed that Israel possesses a nuclear capability.
• To constitute a nuclear weapon, a country needs enriched uranium (up to 90%), a warhead, and a delivery system (ballistic missile or aircraft).

11. Conclusion

Operation Rising Lion represents a significant escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran. The strikes targeted key individuals and infrastructure within Iran's military and nuclear programs, potentially setting back these programs significantly. The operation involved sophisticated military tactics and technology, highlighting the strategic importance of airpower and intelligence gathering. The long-term consequences of this operation remain to be seen, but it is likely to further destabilize the region and increase tensions between Israel and Iran.