Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
Overnight June 21-22, 2025
In history making strikes, President Donald Trump announced at 10 PM EDT Saturday June 21 that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites have been “completely and totally obliterated.” With strikes Trump called a “spectacular military success,” this hopefully completes the necessary work begun by Israel.
Hopefully, because until the dust settles, it may not be known to what extent the level of success, and Israel is also preparing for Iranian retaliation. Now in its tenth day, what began with Operation Rising Lion, Israel took preemptive measures knowing how close Iran had become to completing its nuclear weapon capability, presumably, the hard part is over, as Iran is severely diminished via its air capabilities as well as its nuclear facilities.
The precision targeted strikes by the United States included Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz - all in central Iran. In hitting Isfahan and Natanz, US bombers successfully used 30 Tomahawk missiles. Fordow, considered the most difficult to access, roughly 300 feet underground and beneath a mountain. It is there where the United States launched six bunker buster bombs, carried on three B-2 stealth bombers - a mission practiced and prepared for, for a number of years. These operations do not happen overnight - they require an incredible amount of preparedness, precision, and even patience which when conducted in real time, and completed with the level of success achieved, make these pilots beyond the best of the best. They are to be applauded the world over. On this night, Israel and the United States together saved humanity, and that is not hyperbole.
Israel had no choice but to unleash the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) on June 12, against the number one state sponsor of terror, who for decades have called for “death to Israel, death to America,” referring to the United States as the Great Satan, and Israel as the Little Satan. Iran had been in the advanced stages of uranium enrichment and had the ballistic missiles with which to strike. Even the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) reported Iran’s “engaging in clandestine nuclear activity.” When someone tells you they want to kill you, take them at their word.
“Iran must not have a nuclear weapon,” Trump has repeated for more than 20 years. “Now is the time for peace,” he also said tonight.
Iranian leadership is not honorable; at best they are disingenuous. Its citizenry, for the most part, desperately wants to see regime change. Every day Iranians have been virtual prisoners in their own country since the Iranian Revolution of 1979. This revolution saw the capturing of 66 Americans on November 4, 1979, 52 of whom remained hostages in Iran for 444 days, released, not uncoincidentally, on January 20, 1981 - the very day President Ronald Reagan took the oath of office.
The Islamic Republic of Iran refused to sit at the negotiating table. And quite frankly, what is there to negotiate when Iran and its funded proxies - Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis only seek the death of the Israelis and the Jewish people, as well as the evisceration of Israel itself.
Iran had 60 days to comply and reach the negotiating table, which when they refused, on day 61, Israel took decisive action. President Trump indicated he would decide within two weeks what actions, if any, the US would take. Two days later, those awesome decisions helped save the world. Both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deserve to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. Don’t anyone hold their breath, but they do deserve it. The world as a whole owes both leaders and both nations an enormous “thank you.” Even German Chancellor Friedrich Merz noted that Israel and the United States are doing the dirty work that so clearly needed doing.
These are issues of moral clarity. Israel would not move against Iran if not absolutely necessary. Iran has made it vividly clear, in their death to America, death to Israel mantra, that acquiring nuclear capability is to use their nuclear capability against, first Israel, then the United States. Is Israel moving against Canada? Spain? Japan? Of course not because none of those nations are threatening Israel. As has oft-been said, should Israel lay down their weapons, there will be no Israel, but should Israel’s enemies lay down their weapons, there can, and will be peace.
Of course Iran is not expected to simply roll over and lay down. Israelis, at this very hour, now approaching 8 AM Jerusalem time, remain in or close to their bomb shelters, while schools and most businesses remain closed. Iran has taken a beating. They have been embarrassed and humiliated, and they will not take that lightly. Whether in the Middle East or via sleeper cells in the United States, all must remain vigilant and on high alert. Make no mistake, thanks to the open borders under the failed Biden administration, there’s no telling how many of the illegal aliens are part of organized cells seeking to commit acts of terrorism in the United States. On the other hand, it is rather telling that key supporters of Iran, the Chinese Communist Party, North Korea, and Russia, have been virtually silent.
President Trump sounded effusive when addressing the nation at 10 PM EDT, and quite frankly, humble. “I want to thank and congratulate Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. Thank Israel’s military for the wonderful job they have done…. Incredible effort by the US military - no military in the world could have done what we did tonight - not even close. I want to just thank everybody, in particular G-d. I want to just say we love you G-d, and we love our great military - protect them. G-d Bless the Middle East, G-d Bless Israel, and G-d Bless America,” said Trump. How often does the president, any president, or any world leader invoke the name of our L-rd, our G-d, the way President Trump did this evening.
I think the two assassination attempts on Trump’s life last July during the presidential campaign changed Trump in a spiritual way. Make no mistake, he can still be boisterous, but there also seems to be a leveling off, putting him on a more even keel. He’s still tough, says what he means, and means what he says, and this situation with Israel and Iran certainly proves that.
Netanyahu offered his praise. “Congratulations President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with [the] awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history. History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world’s most dangerous regime, the world’s most dangerous weapon. His leadership today… can help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace.”
In addition to the Iron Dome, the missile defense system that has so protected Israel, Rabbi Chaim Mentz of the Chabad of Bel Air, CA added, “Israel has that extra dome - the G-d Dome.”
Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN. He and his wife last visited Israel in 2019.
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