Economist Podcasts Lone raider: Israel bombs Iran
235 snips
Jun 13, 2025 
Join Angel Pfeffer, The Economist's Israel correspondent, as he unpacks the recent military offensive by Israel against Iran. The discussion dives into the risks of regional escalation and the potential for U.S. involvement. Pfeffer adds depth to the conversation by examining the broader geopolitical consequences of these actions. Additionally, the podcast touches on the challenges of hurricane preparedness in the U.S. and the exciting upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, highlighting its impact on global football dynamics.
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Israel's Major Air Offensive
- Israel launched a massive air operation against Iran using over 200 fighter jets and dropping around 400 munitions on more than 100 targets.
- This scale of air attack marks it as a major war effort, possibly escalating regional tensions significantly.
Precise Targeting of Iranian Leadership
- Israeli strikes targeted senior military commanders, nuclear scientists, command centres, and ballistic missile factories.
- Assassinations of top Iranian military and nuclear leaders were confirmed, signaling a decapitation strategy.
Israel's Nuclear Preemption Logic
- Israel acted based on intelligence that Iran had accelerated nuclear weapons development.
- Officials believe this was a critical moment to prevent Iran from achieving an undetectable nuclear capability.