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After months of attacking Gaza — flattening homes, targeting hospitals and aid workers, and starving a besieged population — Israel has now expanded its assault across borders, launching wide-scale air strikes against Iran. Israeli officials have claimed the strikes are part of a broader operation codenamed ‘Rising Lion’ to deter Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Iran has reported explosions near its uranium enrichment plant in Natanz, the killing of several civilians including children, and the death of a top Revolutionary Guards commander.

While Israel touts the operation as necessary for its survival, the strikes have sparked global alarm, given Israel’s track record of destruction with impunity. X users are describing the attacks as yet another chapter in Israel’s long-standing pattern of aggression, and the latest provocation from a state increasingly emboldened to act without consequences while framing itself as a perpetual victim.

‘Israel strikes, then cries victim’

A recurring theme among X users reacting to the attack is disbelief at Israel’s ability to maintain a global image of self-defence while initiating what many are calling an “unprovoked war”.

Several users highlighted the hypocrisy in how Israel is portrayed by Western media and political leaders, often comparing the situation to ongoing violence in Gaza.

‘A strike on civilians’

Beyond the rhetoric, many focused on the tragic human toll of the attacks. Iranian media confirmed that residential areas in Tehran and other cities were struck, resulting in the deaths of civilians, including children.

The American connection

Despite the Trump administration quickly distancing itself from the attack and reaffirming that the United States had no role in Operation Rising Lion, many on X held Trump accountable for enabling Israel’s unchecked aggression.

There’s a growing frustration over Washington’s decades-long military, financial, and diplomatic support for Israel — regardless of the cost to peace in the region.

What happened

According to Israel’s military, over 200 fighter jets were deployed to hit around 100 targets in Iran. Among them were alleged nuclear development sites, missile factories, and IRGC bases. Iran confirmed that its elite commander Hossein Salami was killed, and state media claimed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps headquarters in Tehran was also struck.

The Iranian government said the attacks killed several civilians, including children, and two renowned nuclear scientists, Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi.

In response, Iran launched around 100 drones aimed at Israeli territory, which Israel claims to have intercepted. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the attack “a wicked and bloody crime,” and promised that Israel would “receive a bitter fate.”

Israeli officials are now warning of a prolonged campaign, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring, “This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.” Israel has also declared a state of emergency, anticipating further retaliation.

Meanwhile, covert operations were reportedly underway alongside the air raids. Axios cited a senior Israeli official saying Mossad spearheaded a series of sabotage missions inside Iran, targeting missile infrastructure and air defence systems.

Despite the bombing, the UN’s nuclear watchdog said Iran reported no increase in radiation levels at Natanz.

At a time when Israel faces global condemnation for its military assault on Gaza, this new front in Iran appears to many as a desperate attempt to deflect and escalate. But if the online reaction is any indication, global audiences are no longer as willing to accept the same old justifications.

As one user summed it up:

And this time, people aren’t buying it.