After years of preparation and intelligence gathering, Israel launched a pre-emptive strike against Iran in the early hours of June 13. In the days leading up to the pre-emptive strike, Israel had planned a series of deceptive public messages to lull Iran into a false sense of security. Israel viewed the weakening of Iran’s proxy groups of Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis as a prime time to target Iran. The regime’s nuclear threat was coming to a head as Iran’s mission to destroy Israel, its supply of uranium for nuclear bombs, and thousands of ballistic missiles and launchers aimed at Israel were now causing an existential threat to Israel.

After flying 930 miles, the surprise attack targeted top Iranian nuclear scientists that were working on the bomb. The Israeli Air Force also struck several nuclear facilities and destroyed much of Iran’s air defenses, which gave the fighter jets and drones freedom in the air. Many ballistic missile launchers were also struck, limiting Iran’s initial response. Additionally, thirty top Iranian military commanders, three of which were very high-ranking generals, were eliminated. This action disrupted Iran’s response and command for nearly a day. All these initial simultaneous targets occurred within minutes of the surprise attack.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said that it “fully met, and even exceeded, all the objectives and goals” that it had set out before the operation, which lasted just twelve days.

Praise God for the strategy, preparation, and follow-through of the IDF to conduct such a powerful strike to remove the threat against Israel.