65 Winter 2026 Iranian attacks on civilians in Israel resulted in multiple casualties, and caused massive damage. Missile and armed drone attacks on Israel by the Iranian regime in the twelve days of the Operation killed 28 civilians and one off-duty soldier at home, wounded over 3,300 people, destroyed entire residential buildings, and seriously damaged a major hospital, two academic institutions, and religious centers. These attacks on the civilian population left thousands of civilians in Israel internally displaced and without homes. The casualties, injuries, and destruction would have been substantially worse were it not for Israel’s defensive systems and efforts, the active participation of Israel’s international allies in Israel’s defense, and the operations undertaken to degrade a significant percentage of the regime’s missile and drone capabilities. Launching Operation ‘Rising Lion’ was also fully consistent with the international law on the use of force. Since the Operation took place in the context of an ongoing armed conflict between Israel and Iran, it does not necessitate an analysis of the conditions for the initial resort to the use of force in self-defense by Israel under the law governing the use of force (jus ad bellum). Nonetheless, even if one were to apply the conditions of necessity and proportionality under jus ad bellum to Israel’s actions, these conditions would be met, as Israel would have an inherent right to use armed force to defend itself against a threat posed by an imminent armed attack, in view of the acceleration of the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons program. The Operation was not an act of ‘preventive self-defense’ and it was not a response solely to an imminent acquisition of nuclear weapon capabilities by a hostile State. Rather, the Operation was intended to stop the Iranian regime – which has persistently and openly stated its intention to eradicate Israel, and has repeatedly translated such intentions into actual military plans and attacks – from closing the short distance to obtaining and deploying these weapons of mass destruction, in furtherance of its program to annihilate Israel. The threat that the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons program posed to Israel, which became imminent as a result of its progress in the months preceding the Operation, necessitated Israel’s actions to thwart it. The Operation was initiated as a measure of last resort, before the last window of opportunity to thwart the existential threat closed, and when it became apparent that all reasonable non-forcible alternatives had been exhausted and had proved to be ineffective. The scale and scope of Israel’s Operation were proportionate to what was required to neutralize the imminent and existential threat posed by the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons program, as well as to the other imminent and actual Iranian attacks against Israel during the Operation. The Operation ceased once its objectives were achieved and a ceasefire was announced. While the Operation has been completed, Israel’s fight to defend its citizens and territory continues. Israel remains under attack from Iranian proxies, partners, and affiliated terrorist armed groups in Gaza, Yemen, and elsewhere. Israel continues to defend its territory and citizens from the threat posed by Iran and armed groups in the region, and at the same time continues to work to secure the release of the hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza. The following paper presents key factual and legal aspects of the Operation. The paper is not intended to provide a full and comprehensive explanation of all aspects of the armed conflict with Iran or the entirety of Israel’s legal positions and analysis, especially as the situation continues to evolve and the outcomes are still being assessed. 1. Operation ‘Rising Lion’ – Israel’s objectives and the broader context On June 13, 2025, Israel initiated Operation ‘Rising Lion’ to neutralize the existential and imminent threat posed by the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons program, as well as the threat posed by its ballistic missiles program and other military activities against Israel, as part of the ongoing armed conflict between the States. During the Operation, Israel also acted to thwart additional direct attacks by the regime – which included firing hundreds of ballistic missiles and launching over a thousand attack drones into Israel, many of them targeting civilian population centers – and to degrade Iran’s capacity to attack Israel through its ‘ring of fire’ comprised of Iranian proxies, partners, and other armed groups around Israel.1 The Operation ended on June 24, 2025, after Israel agreed to the U.S. proposal for a bilateral ceasefire. 1. Letter to the U.N. Security Council Regarding Operation ‘Rising Lion’, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel (June 17, 2025), https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/news/fm-sa-ar-s-letter-to-the-un-security-council-on-operation-risinglion-17-june-2025/en/English_Swords_of_Iron_DOCUMENTS_Operation_Rising_Lion_FM_Saar_Letter_to_UN_ Security_Council.pdf. See also: Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson, BG Effie Defrin—June 13, 2025, Israel Defense
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