So much for Iran's 'invulnerability'

Spencer Guard:

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From the outset of Operation Rising Lion, Israel’s political objective was clear. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on day one that Israel would no longer accept the threat of a near-term nuclear-armed Iran. Within the first 72 hours, Israel conducted one of the most sophisticated preemptive strike campaigns in modern history.

Over 300 guided munitions were launched in five synchronized waves. Israel struck dozens of critical Iranian targets including nuclear facilities, air bases, missile launchers, drone hubs, and leadership compounds. This was done while Israel was simultaneously conducting a major ground operation in Gaza, deterring Hezbollah and defending its own civilians from daily missile attacks.

Israel did more than strike deep. It dominated Iranian skies. The Israeli Air Force operated freely over Iranian territory. No Israeli aircraft were shot down. Not a single pilot was forced to eject or be rescued. Iran’s air defenses, including Russian-built systems, failed to stop any manned aircraft. Israel demonstrated complete air superiority and the operational freedom to hit any target, anywhere inside Iran, without interference.

This display of power shattered the myth of Iran’s invulnerability. For years, the Islamic Republic built a perception of strength based on its nuclear program, missile arsenal, and proxy network. In 12 days, Israel dismantled that illusion. Its actions signaled to the region and to the world that Iran can be struck, its infrastructure can be broken, and its leadership can be targeted without hesitation.

Strategic Decapitation and Nuclear Disruption

Israel's operation focused not only on infrastructure, but also on people. Over 20 senior Iranian military commanders were killed, including:

Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC

Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces

Gholamali Rashid, head of Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters

Amir Ali Hajizadeh, IRGC Aerospace Commander

Saeed Izadi and Mohammad Shahriari, senior Quds Force officers

IRGC intelligence chief Mohammad Kazemi and his deputy Hassan Mohaqiq

In parallel, at least 14 nuclear scientists were eliminated. These included Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani, former head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, and physicist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi. Their deaths dealt a devastating blow to Iran’s nuclear weapons capability.

Major nuclear facilities were heavily damaged or degraded....

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Iran launched over 500 ballistic missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel. The vast majority were intercepted. Of those that reached their targets, fewer than ten caused lethal damage. Twenty-eight Israelis were killed, including 27 civilians and one soldier. While civilians were forced into shelters and daily life was disrupted, Israel’s integrated air defense system, supported by allies such as the United States and Jordan, achieved interception rates between 80 and 90 percent. Drone defenses performed nearly flawlessly. Only one UAV penetrated Israeli airspace and reached a city, causing no casualties.

Iran claimed to hit strategic sites such as air bases and command centers. In reality, it caused limited damage to civilian infrastructure and some symbolic targets. Its most devastating strike hit Soroka Hospital, injuring dozens. Its attack on the Weizmann Institute destroyed years of scientific research and drew global condemnation.
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Drones are limited in their results against a power with superior weapons like those of Israel. Both missiles and drones were vulnerable to the counterattack of Israel, backed up by US weapons, too.  Israel's attack on Iran's command and control and its attacks on scientists were impressive.  Iran is now a much weaker power.