Just after midnight on June 13, deep beneath Israeli air force headquarters, generals watched as a fleet of jets launched one of the boldest military operations in Israel’s history. Dubbed “Red Wedding” in reference to the blood-soaked Game of Thrones scene, the mission targeted Iran’s military leadership. By dawn, Iran’s top commanders were dead.
But that wasn’t the only audacious success. In what planners had jokingly called “Operation Narnia,” nine of Iran’s most critical nuclear scientists were assassinated almost simultaneously in their homes. Both operations, previously considered near-fantastical, marked the beginning of Israel’s 12-day campaign against Iran—one that demonstrated long-range precision, deep infiltration, and a level of military coordination that surprised even some Israeli officials, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Decades in the making
The seeds of the campaign stretch back to the mid-1990s, when Israel began mapping Iran’s nuclear program. Through decades of intelligence work and sabotage—including explosions and assassinations—Israeli officials concluded that surgical strikes alone would not be enough. The only way to halt Iran’s program permanently, they believed, was to eliminate both its nuclear infrastructure and the scientists behind it.
Such an operation would require Israeli jets to fly over 1,000 miles, refuel midair in tightly choreographed formations, and drop missiles with near-simultaneous timing. Israel rehearsed these manoeuvres in Greece in 2008 under “Operation Glorious Spartan.” For years, the plans remained theoretical, blocked by political hesitation and the strategic challenge of flying over hostile airspace.
But the regional landscape changed after 2023. Israel spent nearly two years weakening Hamas and Hezbollah and watched as an anti-Iranian government took power in Syria. This opened a corridor for Israeli jets to cross Syria unhindered. By then, Israeli spy networks were embedded deeply inside Iran, including teams ready to remotely disable air defence systems and smuggled drones positioned near Iranian military assets.
Precision, deception, and timing
Planning for the assault accelerated in late 2024. Israel compiled a list of over 250 targets, from military leaders to nuclear sites. To neutralize Iranian retaliation, the opening salvo aimed to decapitate Iran’s military leadership in a single strike.
Operation Red Wedding almost faltered when Iranian air force leaders began moving locations just as Israeli aircraft approached. But instead of dispersing, they inexplicably regrouped—allowing Israel to strike them together.
Meanwhile, Operation Narnia eliminated nine nuclear scientists with simultaneous attacks at their homes. The key to success: surprise. Israeli agents had smuggled in hundreds of quadcopters and munitions over months, hiding them in luggage, trucks, and shipping containers.
To protect the secrecy of the mission, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly announced he would attend his son’s wedding on June 16. Even his own family was unaware it was a ruse. Leaks suggesting division between Netanyahu and President Trump over the timing of an attack helped reinforce the illusion that Israel would hold off.
On the day of the assault, as Israeli jets were already airborne, Trump posted on Truth Social that the US was “committed to a Diplomatic Resolution,” lulling Iranian officials into a false sense of security.
Aftermath and strategic impact
In the hours that followed the initial attack, Israeli jets disabled radar and missile systems, bombed nuclear facilities, and hunted down key personnel. The U.S. later joined with a massive bombing campaign on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. While full damage assessments are ongoing, Israeli officials say most of their high-value human targets were confirmed dead.
The operation has significantly reshaped the military calculus in the Middle East. Israeli officials say new peace accords with Arab states may now be within reach, as Iran’s influence wanes. Still, some question whether the strikes will stop Iran from rebuilding its program—or push it further underground.
Iran’s nuclear ambitions may have been crippled, but not destroyed. Whether the damage is lasting will depend on diplomacy, deterrence, and whether Iran decides to retaliate or rebuild.
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