In the quiet hours of the night, the Middle East woke up to a new—and potentially devastating—chapter. During “Rising Lion,” Israel launched airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile program, and senior military leaders. Iran’s top military officer, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, and the Revolutionary Guard commander Hossein Salami were both confirmed dead.
Tehran swiftly retaliated, launching over 100 drones towards Israeli territory, which Tel Aviv says were intercepted. It’s the worst escalation since Iran’s war with Iraq in the 1980s, shattering diplomatic efforts for a nuclear deal and raising fears that the U.S. and regional allies may be drawn in soon. The world waits anxiously as tensions soar—because this storm just started.
