Israel’s intelligence agency built a secret drone base near Tehran to launch its recent attacks against Iran. The country spent years preparing for the operation, including smuggling weapons systems and commandos into Iran, security officials told The Times of Israel. Israel activated the drones and destroyed surface-to-surface missile launchers in Iran, while the weapons systems destroyed the country’s air defenses. Mossad commandos deployed precision missiles near anti-aircraft sites, The Times reported. The Israeli Defense Force released videos of the attacks. The IDF releases footage of its strikes on Iranian defense systems, surface-to-surface missiles and other weapons. pic.twitter.com/FoWR6jK314 — Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) June 13, 2025 The secret operation enabled more than 200 Israeli Air Force jets to target more than 100 sites in Iran, including nuclear enrichment sites, weaponization sites, nuclear scientists, and sites related to Iran’s ballistic missile program, The Daily Wire previously reported. The IDF reportedly struck the Natanz Nuclear facility, one of Iran’s key nuclear sites, damaging the underground infrastructure of the multi-story, underground enrichment hall. Israel said the strikes were “the result of planning, drills, and thorough work that six months ago seemed like a fantasy.” The IDF says the strikes on Iran is "is the result of planning, drills, and thorough work that six months ago seemed like a fantasy." Full statement: "Head of the Operations Directorate: This achievement is the result of planning, drills, and thorough work that six months ago… — Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) June 13, 2025 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement that the operation, dubbed “Rising Lion,” would continue “for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.” Prime Minister Netanyahu:"Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat." pic.twitter.com/3c8oF1GCYa — Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 13, 2025 In another video statement, IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said the strikes targeted nuclear sites to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. “We have no choice,” Defrin said. “We are operating against an imminent and existential threat.” The attacks reportedly killed multiple top Iranian officials, including Commander of the IRGC’s Air Force Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Hossein Salami, and Commander of Khatam al-Anbiya (Emergency Command) Gholam Al-Rashid. Most recently, Iranian media claimed the strikes also killed Gen. Ismail Ghaani, the Quds Forces commander. Iranian media reports claim Gen. Ismail Ghaani, the Quds Forces commander, has been killed. Ghaani was the replacement to Qassem Soleimani. — Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) June 13, 2025 This isn’t Mossad’s first successful operation in recent years. In September 2024, Israel detonated booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkies it had been selling secretly to Hezbollah, The Daily Wire previously reported.

'Throwing a rock or a Molotov cocktail'

As President Donald Trump’s Saturday military parade approaches and the Los Angeles riots continue to rage, Democratic Reps. Pat Ryan of New York and Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania passed out miniature American flags — in an apparent attempt to reclaim patriotism for the party. Around the same time the two House Democrats gave out the […]

'There aren't necessarily any warning signs'

'Beijing's talking points'

'This places my community in fear'

'Won’t be able to fake his way'

'I’m not five'

'Negative energy'

Reaction from Republican members of Congress to Israel’s Thursday evening strikes on Iran was mixed, highlighting the foreign policy divide in the party. House and Senate leadership appeared supportive of Israel after the strikes. Still, some prominent GOP members of Congress expressed concern over the United States potentially being drawn into another Middle East war. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said, “The United States Senate stands ready to work with President [Donald] Trump and with our allies in Israel to restore peace in the region and, first and foremost, to defend the American people from Iranian aggression, especially our troops and civilians serving overseas.” Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., praised the Trump administration over its attempts at finding a diplomatic solution to Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. “Israel and the United States have been united, including in our shared insistence that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon. President Trump and his administration have worked tirelessly to ensure that outcome. Unfortunately, Iran has refused to agree and even declared yesterday its intent to build a new enrichment facility,” Johnson said.  The speaker defended Israel’s right to conduct the attacks. “Israel decided it needed to take action to defend itself. They were clearly within their right to do so,” Johnson posted on social media. The House speaker warned the Islamic regime in Tehran that “Iran will face grave consequences if it responds by unjustifiably targeting U.S. interests.” Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., declared his opposition to a major conflict with the Iranian regime, writing on X, “No war with Iran. The Neocons’ latest plan must be opposed.” Neocon, short for neoconservative, is a term that has become associated with those who generally favor a more interventionist U.S. foreign policy. “The American people overwhelming oppose our endless wars, and they voted that way when they voted for Donald Trump in 2024,” Paul said on X. “I urge President Trump to stay the course, keep putting America first, and to not join in any war between other countries,” he said. “Every American should hope and pray for peace,” the Kentucky Republican added. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed strong support for the Israeli attacks. The Arkansas senator condemned the regime in Tehran. “Iran is the world’s worst state sponsor of terrorism, has the blood of thousands of Americans on its hands, and is rushing to build not only nuclear weapons, but also missiles that can strike the United States,” he said in a statement.  “We back Israel to the hilt, all the way,” Cotton said.  Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., expressed the idea that Israel does not need to rely as much on American foreign aid. “Israel doesn’t need U.S. taxpayers’ money for defense if it already has enough to start offensive wars. I vote not to fund this war of aggression,” the Kentucky congressman wrote on X.  In a reply to Trump’s Truth Social post detailing how his administration remained committed to a diplomatic solution with Iran for ending its nuclear weapons program, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., thanked the president. “The American people aren’t interested in foreign wars. They’re actually thrilled you’re sending in the National Guard to stop the Democrat-funded war against America,” the Georgia congressman added. Recent polling from May, conducted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs-Ipsos, shows a supermajority among Republicans in favor of continued assistance to Israel. Some 72% of Republicans surveyed supported “continuing U.S. military assistance until [the militant group] Hamas is destroyed or dismantled.” Democrats opposed continuing the support 59% to 32% in that same poll. “The U.S. stands with Israel and our partners and allies who have long lived under the shadow of Iran’s regional terrorism, ballistic missiles, drones, and malign influence,” Robert Greenway, director of the Allison Center for National Security at The Heritage Foundation, told The Daily Signal yesterday. The attacks targeted several Iranian military bases and the homes of key military command personnel in an attempt to disrupt the Iranian government’s capacity to build a nuclear bomb. One of the top officials killed was Gen. Hossein Salami, the commander in chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Guard Corps are the primary military force responsible for protecting the regime’s leaders and is designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S.  The post Congressional Republicans’ Reaction Is Mixed to Israeli Strikes on Iran appeared first on The Daily Signal.