The unprecedented wave of Israeli airstrikes that began June 13—codenamed Operation Rising Lion—was not solely about curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Officials and analysts now point to a more ambitious goal: toppling Iran’s regime.
- Netanyahu’s Overt Call for Uprising
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Iranian people to “stand up for your freedom,” framing the strikes as an opportunity to topple the “oppressive regime” in Tehran. He stated, “As we clear the path [for nuclear and missile deterrence], we are also clearing the path for you to achieve your freedom” - Scale and Targets Reflect Broader Ambitions
The attacks hit not only nuclear and missile sites, but also IRGC command centers, top generals, and nuclear scientists—a targeting pattern that signals an intent to undermine Iran’s leadership structure, not just disable its weapons capabilities
reuters.com - Experts See Regime Change as Underlying Motive
Commentators from Reuters observe that Israel appears to be “hoping to see regime change,” aiming to destabilize Iran’s credibility and provoke internal dissent
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. Similarly, Foreign Policy argues the nuclear pretext may be a “smoke screen” for a strategy to topple the regime
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- Contradiction at the Core
Despite these signals, leaders like National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi maintain that the official mission remains counterproliferation, asserting that fully eliminating Iran’s nuclear program by force is unfeasible . Yet senior officials leave regime change “on the table” should Iran continue its missile launches
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Context & Risks
Regional escalation: Iran responded with ballistic missiles causing casualties in Israel
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Political calculus: Netanyahu may be leveraging these strikes to strengthen political standing ahead of domestic challenges
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Analysts’ warning: Pundits caution that regime change efforts have historically backfired—potentially empowering hardliners or triggering regional chaos .
Bottom Line
While nuclear and missile suppression remains the official narrative, both the target profile and Netanyahu’s rhetoric strongly suggest that attacking Iran’s political underpinnings and encouraging internal revolt are central, if not the primary, aims.
