jerusalem—
Sirens awakened me at 3 a.m. They weren’t warning of an attack on Israel, but an alert that Israel had attacked Iran.

This morning, in multiple waves, more than 200 warplanes hit sites in Tehran, Natanz and other key locations targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, missile factories and military infrastructure. Meanwhile, Mossad commando teams were on the ground sabotaging missile and air defense sites, officials said. And an explosive drone base inside Iran, established by Mossad, launched attacks on missile launchers near Tehran, an Israeli defense spokesman said.

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This large-scale military operation, code-named Rising Lion, isn’t even over yet, and it could already have exacted the most significant blow to Iran’s regime since it came to power in 1979.

The attack killed top Iranian military officials—including Revolutionary Guard commander Hossein Salami and Air Force commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh—and scientists with knowledge on making nuclear bombs. Several other high-ranking officials are dead or missing.

• “If this opening strike succeeded,” an Israeli defense official told Army Radio early this morning, “then what we did to senior Hezbollah officials over 10 days, we did to Iran in 10 minutes.”

Does this mean full-scale war? Iran’s supreme leader vowed “harsh punishment.” Israelis are bracing themselves. The military is on high alert. Ben Gurion Airport is shut down; Israeli airlines like El Al have moved their planes out of the country. Benjamin Netanyahu has advised people to prepare for extended periods in reinforced bomb shelters.

However, as of right now, the streets of Jerusalem are peaceful. Grocery stores have extra-long lines, but people are calm.

I am here as part of the Celtic Throne tour, having just finished a successful performance last night in Haifa. We are scheduled for two more shows, next Monday and Tuesday, and flying out Wednesday. Perhaps none of these things will happen. We shall see.

In the past, when Israel has struck Iranian military sites—the 2010 Stuxnet cyberattack that damaged around 1,000 centrifuges at Natanz; the 2020 Natanz explosion that set back Iran’s nuclear program by months; last October’s Parchin strike—Iran’s fiery public rhetoric was followed by restrained actions. Its direct strikes were limited, clearly aimed at avoiding direct war.

But compared to those strikes, Rising Lion is much more ambitious and far-reaching.

Israel has prepared for an attack of this magnitude for years, and for this attack specifically for eight months. Recent weeks and days have heightened urgency.

• As hard as the Trump administration has been pushing to negotiate an end to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Iran has been pushing back harder.
• Just yesterday, for the first time in 20 years, the UN’s nuclear watchdog declared Iran had breached its nuclear nonproliferation obligations.
• Iran responded defiantly by announcing its intention to build a new uranium enrichment facility and to enhance its centrifuge capabilities.
• Israel said its intelligence showed Tehran was approaching “the point of no return” in pursuing a nuclear weapon.

Many nations have said Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Only Israel has been willing to take action.

Much of the world has been increasingly condemning of Israel for its ongoing war against Hamas. They are certain now to view Israel as the aggressor and to characterize this strike as an unnecessary provocation that could ignite a wider war. It is far more accurate to view it as a bold move to prevent world war.

We have dealt with Iran’s proxies over the past year and a half, but now we are dealing with the head of the snake itself.
—Israel Katz, Israeli defense minister

The Trump administration has disavowed any involvement; America is looking after itself and has informed Israel it will not participate in any attacks. Some are wringing their hands over how Israel’s actions have torpedoed peace talks, as if those talks were ever anything but delusional. Donald Trump just posted a warning to Iran on Truth Social, but it essentially warned of more action coming from Israel, not America.

Without America’s help (particularly its specialized munitions), Israel will only be able to degrade Iran’s nuclear sites not destroy them. Fordow, the main nuclear site that is under a mountain, is not listed on the attacked sites. Israel needs America’s stealth bombers and Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs to knock this out.

It proceeded nevertheless. In a video address, Netanyahu described Israel’s attack as a fight not just for his nation’s survival but as a fight on behalf of all civilization.

It’s true, and the world should be thankful. It won’t be.

And Bible prophecy shows that in the end, it will pay a dear price for not siding with Israel against Iran.

IN OTHER NEWS

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Supreme Court makes it easier to build stuff: The National Environmental Policy Act requires federal agencies to file an environmental impact statement before starting major projects. Over time, courts piled on more red tape, turning a simple law into a bureaucratic nightmare. That changed with Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, a case about an 88-mile railway extension. Despite a 3,600-page environmental review, the D.C. Circuit Court said it wasn’t enough. Thankfully, the Supreme Court disagreed. Writing for the majority, Justice Kavanaugh called out the madness: “A 1970 legislative acorn has grown … into a judicial oak that has hindered infrastructure development ‘under the guise’ of just a little more process.” Translation: Enough with the delays. America’s inability to build things is a striking symptom of national decline. If the Supreme Court is serious about removing these obstacles, it could be a big step toward getting America building again. Hooray for progress.

“Porn Britannia”: This week’s Spectator cover story reports a lamentable cultural shift: A surprising number of young British women are becoming porn creators. According to their estimates, nearly 1 in 25 women in the UK ages 18 to 34 are using OnlyFans to sell explicit content. This platform allows users to pay for private access to creators’ photos, videos and direct messages. It is now a $6 billion juggernaut, yet most creators earn little: The average income is under £1,000 per year. The article argues it’s less about profit than about validation: Women are looking for attention from men and affirmation from other women. OnlyFans has essentially industrialized a very old exchange. It exposes and feeds the moral rot at the heart of Britain.

2024 saw more armed conflicts than any year since World War ii, according to data published Wednesday by the Uppsala Conflict Data Program. The organization recorded 61 active conflicts involving at least one nation in 2024, up from the previous record of 59 in 2023. Eleven of these active conflicts escalated into full-scale war with more than 1,000 people killed. Our In Brief has more information and a graphical breakdown.

China’s rare earth domination: A China-backed militia has gained control over new rare earth mines in eastern Myanmar, according to four people familiar with the matter, Reuters reported Thursday. Our In Brief has more on the battle to control these resources so vital for the modern world.

Trinity doubts: Only 11 percent of Americans believe that God is “three distinct but inseparable and equal persons in one infinite being.” Doubting the trinity is not new in America—as our In Brief explains.