What is going on in Iran? Operation Rising Lion appears to be causing chaos for Islamic Republic

As the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran appears to be in shock following Israel’s surprise initiation of Operation Rising Lion, which involved Mossad agents operating inside the country, and the elimination of high level scientists and military leaders, it appears that the situation has not improved in the past couple days. 

The Iranian government announced on Monday that it had executed a man found guilty of spying for Israel's Mossad intelligence service, according to reports in the Iranian Student News Agency and the government-affiliated Fars news agency. 

The two news organizations listed the man’s name as Esmail Fekri, saying he was executed by hanging earlier Monday morning, after being arrested in December. While Fekri had no apparent connection to the events of Friday morning, the move appears to be related to anti-Mossad efforts by the Iranian regime over the past two days. 

On Monday, the Tasnim news agency claimed that two Mossad agents operating in the country had been arrested in Fashafoyeh. State-affiliated Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) claimed that the two were arrested with over 200 kg (440 pounds) of explosives, 23 drones, launchers, and guidance equipment, along with a Nissan pick-up truck. 

In total, the Iranian government claims to have arrested 28 people suspected of working with the Mossad since Friday. 

In a related story, the Tasnim news agency, which is linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), claimed that Iranian security agents located an Israeli drone factory inside Iran. That report would appear to contradict a Wall Street Journal article, which claimed the drones had been smuggled into Iran prior to the attack. 

At the same time, the IDF declared that it had “achieved full aerial superiority over Tehran’s skies” earlier this afternoon, allowing it to strike targets at will. 

“We are targeting Iranian cells in real time as they launch missiles toward the State of Israel and our aircraft,” IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said. “The aerial capabilities we previously saw in Gaza, Lebanon, and Judea and Samaria are now operational in Iran.” 

Shortly after that announcement, the IDF said it struck the building of Iran’s IRIB state broadcaster in Tehran, claiming the building was “used by the Iranian Armed Forces under the guise of civilian activity.” 

This morning, an Iranian woman in Tehran posted this photo, urging Israel to strike the regime’s propaganda arm, the IRIB (state broadcaster).

It was destroyed just hours later.

To the people of Iran:
Keep sharing what you want Israel to target. pic.twitter.com/cZIWJODCrD

— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) June 16, 2025

Later in the evening, the IDF said that it was working to destroy more launches, in addition to the “over 120 surface-to-surface missile launchers” it had already destroyed. 

The military released footage of trucks carrying surface-to-air missile launchers being destroyed by the IAF, and later announced it had destroyed launchers of drones set up to attack Israel. 

חיל-האוויר תקף וסיכל ניסיון שיגור כטב״מים לעבר מדינת ישראל.
בימים האחרונים, כלי טיס של חיל-האוויר עקבו אחרי חוליית השיגור, זיהו את המשגרים פורסים את משגרי הכטב״מים ואמצעי הלחימה בשטח.
בסגירת מעגל מהירה, חוליית השיגור חוסלה והמשגרים הושמדו לפני שהספיקו לשגר לעבר שטח מדינת ישראל. pic.twitter.com/tIumaPM8UQ

— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) June 16, 2025

After Iran launched another barrage of ballistic missiles at northern Israel, targeting the Haifa Bay area, the IDF announced that IAF fighter jets were striking ballistic missile launchers in western Iran. 

There were no reported impacts from that barrage towards Haifa Bay. 

Additionally, reports out of Iran since Sunday evening, indicate that residents of Tehran have begun fleeing the capital city ahead of expected intensification of Israeli strikes in the city. 

Pictures and videos shared on social media showed long lines of vehicles attempting to flee the city heading both north, to the Caspian Sea area, and to Saveh, in the south. 

People flee Tehran, Capital of Iran.

Israel brought the Islamic Republic on its knees in just 72 hours. pic.twitter.com/TnvVmtUEru

— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) June 15, 2025

Mass exodus out of Tehran.

These people are going south in the direction of Saveh, but every road out of the capital looks exactly the same. pic.twitter.com/osFTprrl7n

— 𝗡𝗶𝗼𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗴 ♛ ✡︎ (@NiohBerg) June 15, 2025

International media reporting from Tehran also reported kilometer-long lines for gasoline at gas stations in Tehran.