Iran: Israel’s hit was prepared for 8 months

Israel’s attacks during the night aimed at Iran’s nuclear facilities, missile facilities, scientists and generals followed eight months of intense secret preparations, as Axios reveals.

The operation launched a new war in the Middle East that could involve the US, breaking up any hope of a nuclear deal and undoubtedly brought about the biggest blow to the Iranian regime since the 1979 revolution. It is likely to follow as Israel’s attacks continue.

Israel is trying to « eliminate » Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities in a business that is expected to last for at least several days, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Other Israeli officials said it could take weeks.

Israel attempted – just in the early hours – to assassinate nuclear scientists, who claims to have had the know -how for the construction of a nuclear bomb. About 25 scientists have been targeted and at least six deaths have been confirmed.

Nuclear scientists and senior military who was murdered

Israel also targeted all the senior executives of the Iranian army. The Iranian state media have confirmed the deaths of the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Mohammad Bagkeri, the Chief of the House of the Islamic Revolution, Hossein Salamis and the Senior Governor Golamali Rasid.

Iran’s top leader Ali Khamenei appointed Habibolal Saayari as a temporary leader of the Armed Forces Staff and Ahmad Vachidi as a new commander of the Revolution Guards.

The 6 distinguished nuclear scientists who have been assassinated are Fereinun Abasi (former head of the Iranian atomic Energy Organization) and Mohammad Mehdi Tehrantsi (and former head of Azad University).

The Iranian state media have confirmed blows to critical nuclear facilities in Natanz, the Uranus enrichment basis, Hondab, Horamabad and the drum.

Awaiting retaliation Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he expects « many waves of Iranian attacks » in response to Israeli blows, AFP reports.

« We expect several waves of Iranian attacks, » Netanyahu said in a video statement, after Israel hit military and nuclear facilities in Iran in the early hours of Friday.

« It was necessary to act and I appointed the date of application for the end of April 2025 » and explained that this was not then « for a variety of reasons ».

Attacks from Iran’s territory

The Israeli operation did not only include air raids. The Israeli Mosad Intelligence Service has agents on the ground conducting secret sabotage operations at rocket and air defense facilities, mainly with drones, officials said. Israel is expected to continue to pound Iran’s underground nuclear facilities in the coming days, along with other targets.

The idea for a operation with a simultaneous targeting of Iran’s missile and nuclear programs-which Netanyahu has described as existential threats to Israel-took flesh and bones after Iran hit Israel in October during a « Tit-For » circle.

Motivated by both Iran’s rapidly growing rocket arsenal and his weakened airline after Israel’s last year’s attacks, Netanyahu ordered the army and intelligence services to start planning.

The Israeli army said another factor was information on the investigation and development of nuclear weapons that showed that Iran could build a bomb faster if it chose.

Scheduled for the next few weeks opening a new underground enrichment facility that would have been unaccountable even by the massive American explosive shelters added the urgency.

The US knew and had given the ‘green light’

Even as President Trump sought a nuclear deal, Israel was preparing for this blow by gathering information, placing means and eventually conducting exercises. These preparations were upset by some in the White House, who were worried that Netanyahu could move even without the green light of Trump.

Netanyahu assured Trump that he would not. The White House, for his part, told Netanyahu that if Israel attacks Iran, he would do so alone. Trump himself has said several times in recent days, including several hours before the blows, that he opposes an Israeli blow that could « shake » the negotiations.

During the start of the attack, Israeli officials informed reporters that all of them were coordinated with Washington. Something confirmed by the US.

Two Israeli officials claimed to Axios that Trump and his assistants only pretended to be opposed to an Israeli attack publicly and did not express their opposition privately. « We had clear ‘green light’ from the US, » one claimed. The goal, they say, was to convince Iran that there was no attack and to ensure that the Iranians on Israel’s target list would not move to new locations.

As long as Trump « pushing Netanyahu », they coordinated their movements

Netanyahu’s assistants even informed Israeli journalists that Trump tried to put a brake on an Israeli blow on a phone call on Monday, while in fact the phone call was about coordination before the attack, Israeli officials now say.

Foreign Minister Marco Rubio quickly said that Israel’s attack was « unilateral » without any US involvement. Hours later, Trump confirmed that he was aware of an attack, but stressed that the US had no military involvement.

The degree of US support at the level of information, logistical infrastructure and defense for Israel’s operation remains to be seen.

Israel is now preparing for Iran to launch hundreds of ballistic missiles and unmanned aircraft to Israel, and perhaps to US bases in the area. But ballistic missiles have been affected and in particular the rocket exits.

Iranian officials threatened on Friday that their response will also target the US as well.