Peter Suciu
The attack occurred just days before planned nuclear negotiations in Oman on Sunday, which were to address international concerns over the country’s nuclear capabilities and overall ambitions.
44 years ago this month, Israel launched Operation Opera, a daring and successful raid on a heavily defended Iraqi nuclear facility. Meticulous preparation was made, including selecting the best pilots and flying extensive rehearsals against a full-scale mockup of the facility inside Israel.
At that time, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) had only recently acquired the American-built F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon jets, but each was deemed to be more than suitable to carry out such a long-range mission. Six Eagles provided cover for eight Fighting Falcons, each armed with two 1,000-kg (2,205-lb) bombs. During the mission, the aircraft flew only a few feet over the ground across unpopulated stretches of Jordan and Saudi Arabia to avoid radar detection. Less than 90 minutes after takeoff, the fighters reached their target, Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor. All 16 bombs struck the facility, destroying it completely and setting back Saddam Hussein’s nuclear aspirations by a decade.
This was not the last time that IAF would carry out a daring mission to disable a regional rival’s nuclear program. In 2007, a similar mission saw the destruction of Syria’s unfinished nuclear reactor. And early on Friday morning, Israel carried out a massive attack against Iran, striking its Natanz nuclear facility, destroying missile sites, and assassinating dozens of high-profile military officers.
“Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation aimed at dismantling the Iranian threat to Israel’s survival,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced shortly after the strikes took place. “This operation will continue for as long as necessary to eliminate this danger.”
What to Know About Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion”
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