For the first time in its history, Israel got a taste of what it has been dealing out to the Palestinians for 70-odd years—destruction and devastation. In the past, the various misadventures, murder and mayhem that Israel dealt out to its neighbors never had blowback for Israeli citizens, who were insulated from the bloodshed that their military delivered to others, and which they eagerly cheered on. Worse, they derided the very people their soldiers are/were slaughtering, and turned genocide into a spectator sport.
The bizarre adventure that was Israel’s sneak attack on Iran on June 13, 2025 (Operation Rising Lion) was supposed to follow the same triumphalist script—the Iranians were just supposed to take the punishment, and Israel was supposed to show the world, once again, who was boss. But the Iranians had other plans.
The purpose of Israel’s sneak attack was threefold. First, to take down the military command structure of Iran. Second, to destroy Iran’s nuclear capability. Third, and most important of all, to bring about regime change.
The first purpose succeeded in killing about twenty senior Iranian commanders, mostly of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and some from among the armed forces, as well as about 14 (or perhaps 17) physicists and nuclear engineers. Israel has been killing Iranian scientists since 2017.
Then, came Operation Midnight Hammer, launched by President Trump, on the night of June 21-22, 2025, targeting key Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The operation involved over 125 aircraft, including seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, multiple fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, numerous aerial refueling tankers, a guided missile submarine, and extensive intelligence and reconnaissance support.
There are conflicting assessments regarding the effectiveness of the strike. Initial leaks from U.S. defense sources suggested the damage may have only set back Iran’s nuclear program by a few months, with some core facilities reportedly still intact. These leaks have been disputed by White House officials and military leadership, who maintain the mission was a success. Subsequent intelligence statements, including from CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Israeli officials, have asserted that the strikes caused significant and long-term damage to Iran’s nuclear capabilities, with some Iranian sites confirmed as badly damaged by Iran itself.
However, neither Israel’s sneak attack, nor Trump’s bombings brought about the true end-result—regime change. It seems that both Netanyahu and Trump actually believed the narrative frequently found among Iranian ex-pat circles, which deludes itself by believing that people inside Iran is sick of their government and want to get rid of it; they only need a signal that the West is with them and they will be out on the streets, and launch a massive popular uprising, which will bring about a new, American-approved new government in Tehran. And the same narrative stated that the current Iranian government is weak and widely hated, and just needs a push from Israel and the USA, and it will fall quickly. It is now obvious that such tales told for various reasons by expat Iranians have no basis in the reality of ordinary like in Iran.
After the sneak attack, there certainly were huge numbers of Iranians out on the streets—but all in support of their government. The Iranian people decided that the time had come to show a vast reserve of courage and patriotism, and therefore, revolve.
It would seem that Tel Aviv and Washington actually believed the wild takes spun by one Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late Shah of Iran. Reza was hoping to be the new ruler of Iran, or rather the installed puppet of Israel and the USA.
This was Israel’s and America’s greatest mistake in this debacle. They read the sentiments of the Iranian people through the lens of Reza Pahlavi, and therefore they profoundly misread the reality of the Iranian street. This prince in exile, who cannot even open a bottle of water on his own, suddenly has the ability to run Iran, and will be Cyrus the Great 2.0?
And in the meantime, there was the reality of Iran’s military might—which Israel got to taste firsthand, and which truly obliterated all the important logistical centers inside Israel.
But more important of all, what was finally and truly obliterated was the myth of Israel the invincible. All those stories about the cunning of Israeli ways now lies in the rubble of Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beersheba, etc., etc.
The myth of Israeli superiority was nothing that a bunch of intertwined narratives fabricated to portray Israel as morally, militarily, and politically superior, in order to justify its actions and status in the Middle East.
First, there was the myth of Israel’s military superiority, in which it was often depicted as a small, outnumbered nation that miraculously survived and triumphed against overwhelming Arab forces, especially in the 1948 War and the 1967 Six-Day War. This narrative cast Israel as a heroic underdog with exceptional military prowess and moral purity in its use of arms. However, historical scrutiny challenges this, showing that Israel had significant advantages such as surprise attacks, superior technology, and substantial external support, especially from the U.S. This undermines the idea of an invincible or purely defensive military.
Second, there was the myth of Israel’s moral and political superiority. Israel always claimed to be the “only democracy in the Middle East,” which was used to assert moral superiority over its neighbors. Of course, Israel is more accurately described as an ethnocracy, privileging Jewish citizens over Palestinians and others, which destroys the democratic narrative. And as for morality—there is the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and Israel’s eagerness to carry out assassinations.
Third, there was the myth of Jewish Supremacy. The Zionist project and Israeli policies are deeply rooted in Jewish supremacy. This is reflected in practices and symbols that assert Jewish dominance over Palestinians, contributing to the ongoing conflict and systemic discrimination.
Fourth, there is the myth of exceptionalism and vulnerability. Israel’s national identity combines a sense of exceptionalism with a perception of existential vulnerability, fueling narratives of both superiority and the need for constant defense, which shape its security policies and self-image.
All four of these myths were obliterated by Iran’s missile and drone strikes. What has Israel left? One thing only—America’s largesse. How long this will last remains to be seen.
