Israel’s unprecedented June 13 strike deep inside Iran shattered the country’s long-held sense of security and exposed vulnerabilities in its leadership and defenses, reports Nadeen Ebrahim at CNN. The attack killed hundreds, including top military and nuclear figures, and was followed by U.S. strikes. Supreme Leader Khamenei, now reportedly hiding in a bunker, faces growing internal criticism for strategic missteps. The Islamic Republic’s promise of security in exchange for limited freedoms has been deeply undermined, leaving the nation shaken and uncertain. Ebrahim writes:
For over than three decades, Iran built a web of proxy networks to push its battles far beyond its borders – keeping enemies at bay, as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei tightened his grip on power. Direct strikes on Iran remained inconceivable.
That image of invincibility crumbled in the space of hours on June 13, when Israel launched a surprise, unprecedented attack deep inside Iran, shattering Tehran’s sense of security and unraveling its carefully cultivated aura of strength.
Its strikes took out top military leaders and some of Iran’s most prominent nuclear scientists, including a few as they slept at home with their families. The human toll was significant, with 627 killed. […]
For the Iranian people, a sense that they were at least safe within their country’s borders has been quashed.
“The Islamic Republic had one social contract with society, which is that it deprived them of all freedoms… in return for providing security,” Vaez said. “Now, that image has been shattered in the eyes of the Iranian people.”
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