Jun 18, 2025
10
mins read
On 13 June 2025, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion ( The name is taken from a Bible verse, which symbolizes Israel’s strength and determination, comparing the nation to a lion rising for battle.), a swift and highly coordinated military strike targeting Iran's key nuclear and missile infrastructure. The pre-emptive campaign, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), drone swarms, and special forces, has not only upended the geopolitical equation in West Asia but also reignited core debates in international law and security strategy. For UPSC aspirants, this event is important for General Studies (GS) integration, touching GS Paper II (International Relations, UN), GS Paper III (Technology in Security, Drone Warfare)
H-Hour (00:03 IST, 13 June 2025): 40 "Rampage-M" loitering munitions, reportedly cached inside Iran earlier, neutralised air-defence radar bubbles near Natanz and Fordow.
+20 mins: Israeli F-35I Adir fighter jets launched Rampage-ALMs at nuclear enrichment facilities. Satellite imagery confirms roof collapses and widespread internal damage.
+2 hours: Mossad-supported special ops units sabotaged gas infrastructure in South Pars, causing cascading blackouts across southwestern Iran.
+5 hours: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) dubbed the mission "Operation Rising Lion," citing the biblical reference: "The people rise like a lion" (Numbers 23:24).
These rapid strikes combined kinetic force, cyber-deception, and real-time data loops — showcasing a new template of AI-augmented warfare.
Table of content
Several geopolitical and intelligence factors have driven the Iran-Israel conflict 2025:
Historical Roots: The relationship between Iran and Israel has been marked by deep hostility since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which transformed Iran from a close ally of Israel under the Shah to an Islamic Republic openly antagonistic towards the Jewish state.
Iran’s Support for Anti-Israel Groups: Iran has been a staunch backer of Palestinian causes, including providing support to Hamas and Hezbollah, both of which are labeled as terrorist organisations by Israel.
IAEA Revelation: A leaked May 2025 report suggested Iran had enriched uranium beyond 84%, dangerously close to weapons-grade levels.
Imminent EU-Iran Deal: Scheduled talks on 15 June were likely to relax sanctions, which Israel feared would financially embolden Tehran’s proxies.
Domestic Unrest in Iran: Months of anti-regime protests and reported IRGC splits made the Iranian leadership vulnerable to shock.
Natanz Nuclear Facility (Isfahan Province):
Iran’s primary uranium enrichment centre, referred to as the “beating heart” of its nuclear programme.
Severely damaged in Israel’s strike, including major surface infrastructure.
Fordow Enrichment Plant (Qom Province):
Located deep underground, this facility is critical for high-grade enrichment.
Reported explosions suggest it was partially targeted in follow-up strikes.
Bid Kaneh Missile Complex:
A key site for missile development and production.
Hit by precision strikes targeting strategic deterrence capability.
Kermanshah Missile Base:
Central hub for short and medium-range missile storage.
Hit to restrict Iran’s retaliation capabilities.
Tabriz Military Bases & Research Centre: Targeted to cripple military command structures and destroy ballistic storage units.
Tehran Command Centre: Underground base where Iran’s IRGC air force leadership was meeting key commanders killed.
Iran’s Nuclear Infrastructure
Over the past five years, Iran has steadily accelerated its uranium enrichment programme, shortening the time it would take to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon.
This breakout time, the period needed to enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels sufficient for one nuclear device, reportedly shrunk to just a few weeks.
Under the terms of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), that timeframe was estimated at over a year.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimates that Iran possesses enough 60% enriched uranium, if enriched further to 90%, to manufacture nearly 4 nuclear warheads.
Tehran maintains that its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes.
Technological Breakthrough: AI as Warfighter
The Iran-Israel conflict has been hailed as the first large-scale application of AI in a state-level offensive. Key features include:
Swarming Drones: Loitering munitions created saturation, overwhelming even upgraded Russian-origin S-300/S-400 systems.
Real-time ISR Fusion: ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) data was analysed by large language models (LLMs), reducing the decision loop from 9 minutes (Gaza, 2021) to 90 seconds.
SOF-AI Synergy: Special Forces were guided live by AI feedback loops, improving kill-chain efficiency and minimising collateral damage.
Iran: Responded with a limited missile volley on Eilat, of which 70% were intercepted by Iron Dome. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei blamed "treacherous Arab states" for sharing radar intel.
United States: Officially uninvolved but exercised veto power against a Russian-led UNSC resolution condemning Israel, hinting at strategic alignment.
European Union: Called for restraint. Germany, France, and the UK jointly urged a diplomatic de-escalation.
India: Launched Operation Nirbhik-II to extract over 2,300 citizens from Iran, including students and Chabahar port staff. Simultaneously, India abstained from a UN censure vote, citing the 1981 Osirak precedent.
The Iran-Israel conflict, marked by covert operations, cyber warfare, and targeted strikes, threatens to spiral into a full-scale regional war. To prevent further escalation and ensure regional and global stability, a multi-pronged de-escalation strategy is essential:
1. Two-State Solution:
Israel should move towards a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza, facilitate the flow of international humanitarian aid, and honour UN resolutions aimed at resolving the decades-old crisis through a two-state solution.
2. Reviving the JCPOA Framework
Re-engaging Iran through a modified Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) could be key. A phased return-offering sanctions relief for verifiable nuclear rollback-might create a platform to address both nuclear and regional security concerns.
3. Establishing a Regional Security Dialogue
Creating a West Asia Security Dialogue Forum—including Iran, Israel, Gulf states, and major powers similar to Arab League or Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-can institutionalize security cooperation and crisis prevention mechanisms. .
4. Dialogue and Diplomacy:
Direct engagement between Iran and Israel, with the support of neutral international mediators like the European Union or the United Nations, could pave the way for trust-building and meaningful negotiations to identify common ground.
5. UN-Led Humanitarian Interventions
Deploying UN peace envoys or special rapporteurs to assess humanitarian fallout and propose ceasefire corridors in hotspots like Syria, Lebanon, or Iraq could reduce civilian tolls and force diplomatic accountability.
Year | Paper | Question | Integration With Rising Lion |
2013 | GS III | "Cyber warfare is the future battlefield." Comment. | Rising Lion's drone-cyber-AI triad makes for a perfect example. |
2020 | GS II | "India’s non-alignment policy amid US-Iran tensions." | Add balancing Israel into the matrix. |
2022 | GS III | "Challenges posed by UAVs to traditional air defence." | Iron Dome vs drone swarms; Rising Lion case application. |
Q1. Why is Operation Rising Lion important for UPSC?
Because it touches GS II (foreign policy, international law), GS III (drone warfare, ISR), and GS IV (ethics of war). It is a contemporary, multidimensional issue with static + dynamic overlap.
Q2. What makes this strike unique militarily?
The strike showcased AI-assisted ISR, swarming drone saturation, and special forces synergy. It’s a textbook case of next-gen warfare.
Q3. How does the Iran-Israel conflict affect India’s foreign policy?
India must balance between strategic ties with Israel and Iran, manage energy dependencies, and protect its diaspora.
Q4. Is preventive self-defence legal?
International law is ambiguous. Article 51 of the UN Charter allows self-defence, but “non-imminent” strikes are contentious.
Potential UPSC Mains Questions:
Q.1 Assess the legality of preventive strikes under international law, with reference to Operation Rising Lion.
Q.2 Evaluate the role of AI in altering deterrence dynamics, citing recent West Asian conflicts.
The Iran-Israel conflict, rooted in historical, ideological, and geopolitical tensions, threatens regional stability and global security. For India, it poses risks to energy security, diaspora safety, and economic stability. Diplomatic solutions, nuclear non-proliferation, and regional cooperation are essential to de-escalate hostilities and ensure long-term peace in West Asia.
Internal Linking Suggestions
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NCERT Official Website – Books for UPSC: https://ncert.nic.in/
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