{"682869":{"#nid":"682869","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Nuclear Scientists Have Long Been Targets in Covert Ops \u2013 Israel Has Brought That Policy Out of the\u00a0Shadows","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAt least \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/how-much-damage-have-israeli-strikes-caused-irans-nuclear-programme-2025-06-16\/\u0022\u003E14 nuclear scientists\u003C\/a\u003E are believed to be among those killed in Israel\u2019s Operation \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/livecoverage\/israel-iran-strike-conflict\/card\/netanyahu-says-rising-lion-operation-will-last-as-many-days-as-it-takes--awFq7ykuEj4Mq9D4i0gw?gaa_at=eafs\u0026amp;gaa_n=ASWzDAg2Mjph3LQovyuPsnLTYLAVRZoFSXuoF4exuo_kc7d3RmpImSr6d2xJ\u0026amp;gaa_ts=6851d7f7\u0026amp;gaa_sig=ztPAqgbhbKOzEeSy-6O5L8OMsGbzS0KUQ-0WGvYhqLXH9AUIxSK7wuXNBYgjEAWOAB_B78lrssm5TeZsoK5kVw%3D%3D\u0022\u003ERising Lion\u003C\/a\u003E, launched on June 13, 2025, ostensibly to destroy or degrade Iran\u2019s nuclear program and military capabilities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDeliberately targeting scientists in this way \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/x.com\/IDF\/status\/1933830006557286549\u0022\u003Eaims to disrupt\u003C\/a\u003E Iran\u2019s knowledge base and continuity in nuclear expertise. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2025\/6\/13\/israel-kills-nuclear-scientists-strikes-sites-in-iran-who-did-it-target\u0022\u003EAmong those assassinated\u003C\/a\u003E were \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/06\/13\/world\/middleeast\/iran-military-generals-killed-israel.html\u0022\u003EMohammad Mehdi Tehranchi\u003C\/a\u003E, a theoretical physicist and head of Iran\u2019s Islamic Azad University, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/06\/13\/world\/middleeast\/iran-military-generals-killed-israel.html\u0022\u003EFereydoun Abbasi-Davani\u003C\/a\u003E, a nuclear engineer who led Iran\u2019s Atomic Energy Organization.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECollectively, these experts in physics and engineering were \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.timesofisrael.com\/liveblog_entry\/idf-names-9-iranian-nuclear-scientists-killed-in-simultaneous-opening-strikes-says-they-advanced-efforts-toward-bomb\/\u0022\u003Epotential successors\u003C\/a\u003E to Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, widely regarded as the architect of the Iranian nuclear program, who \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/09\/18\/world\/middleeast\/iran-nuclear-fakhrizadeh-assassination-israel.html\u0022\u003Ewas assassinated\u003C\/a\u003E in a November 2020 attack many blame on Israel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs two \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/inta.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/rachel-whitlark\u0022\u003Epolitical\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/inta.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/jenna-jordan\u0022\u003Escientists\u003C\/a\u003E writing a book about state targeting of scientists as a counterproliferation tool, we understand well that nuclear scientists have been targeted since the nuclear age began. We have gathered data on nearly 100 instances of what we call \u201cscientist targeting\u201d from 1944 through 2025.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe most recent assassination campaign against Iranian scientists is different from many of the earlier episodes in a few key ways. Israel\u2019s recent attack targeted multiple nuclear experts and took place simultaneously with military force to destroy Iran\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/06\/14\/middleeast\/iran-israel-nuclear-facilities-damage-impact-intl\u0022\u003Enuclear facilities\u003C\/a\u003E, air defenses and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2025\/6\/15\/which-iranian-oil-and-gas-fields-has-israel-hit-and-why-do-they-matter\u0022\u003Eenergy infrastructure\u003C\/a\u003E. Also, unlike previous covert operations, Israel immediately \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-explosions-israel-tehran-00234a06e5128a8aceb406b140297299\u0022\u003Eclaimed responsibility\u003C\/a\u003E for the assassinations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut our research indicates that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sup.org\/books\/politics\/leadership-decapitation\u0022\u003Etargeting\u003C\/a\u003E scientists may not be effective for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cornellpress.cornell.edu\/book\/9781501760341\/all-options-on-the-table\/\u0022\u003Ecounterproliferation\u003C\/a\u003E. While removing individual expertise may delay nuclear acquisition, targeting alone is unlikely to destroy a program outright and could even increase a country\u2019s desire for nuclear weapons. Further, targeting scientists may trigger blowback given concerns regarding \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.legitimacyasatarget.com\/books\/drones\/\u0022\u003Elegality and morality\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EA Policy With a Long History\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETargeting nuclear scientists began during World War II when Allied and Soviet forces \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ahf.nuclearmuseum.org\/ahf\/history\/alsos-mission\/\u0022\u003Eraced to capture\u003C\/a\u003E Nazi scientists, degrade Adolf Hitler\u2019s ability to build a nuclear bomb and use their expertise to advance the U.S. and Soviet nuclear programs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe class=\u0022tc-infographic-datawrapper\u0022 style=\u0022border-width:0;\u0022 id=\u0022FZnJE\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/FZnJE\/5\/\u0022 height=\u0022400px\u0022 width=\u0022100%\u0022 scrolling=\u0022no\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn our data set, we classified \u201ctargeting\u201d as cases in which scientists were captured, threatened, injured or killed as nations tried to prevent adversaries from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. Over time, at least four countries have targeted scientists working on nine national nuclear programs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe United States and Israel have allegedly carried out the most attacks on nuclear scientists. But the United Kingdom and Soviet Union have also been behind such attacks.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeanwhile, scientists working for the Egyptian, Iranian and Iraqi nuclear programs have been the most frequent targets since 1950. Since 2007 and prior to the current Israeli operation, 10 scientists involved in the Iranian nuclear program were killed in attacks. Other countries\u2019 nationals have also been targeted: In 1980, Mossad, Israel\u2019s intelligence service, allegedly bombed Italian engineer Mario Fiorelli\u2019s home and his firm, SNIA Techint, as a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.routledge.com\/Two-Minutes-Over-Baghdad\/Bar-Joseph-Handel-Perlmutter\/p\/book\/9780714683478?srsltid=AfmBOor77WE0sofh2anZN3uhYqQXqnmPVKGo0Wqxo6Hnvj_Dd3mc2W2s\u0022\u003Ewarning to Europeans\u003C\/a\u003E involved in the Iraqi nuclear project.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGiven this history, the fact that Israel attacked Iran\u2019s nuclear program is not itself surprising. Indeed, it has been a strategic goal of successive Israeli prime ministers to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chathamhouse.org\/2024\/09\/could-israels-attacks-hezbollah-open-way-strike-irans-nuclear-facilities\u0022\u003Eexperts had been warning\u003C\/a\u003E of the increased likelihood of an Israeli military operation since mid-2024, due to regional dynamics and Iranian nuclear development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center \u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022A damaged car at the scene of explosion.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/675434\/original\/file-20250619-62-x39kdh.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/675434\/original\/file-20250619-62-x39kdh.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=399\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/675434\/original\/file-20250619-62-x39kdh.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=399\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/675434\/original\/file-20250619-62-x39kdh.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=399\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/675434\/original\/file-20250619-62-x39kdh.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=502\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/675434\/original\/file-20250619-62-x39kdh.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=502\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/675434\/original\/file-20250619-62-x39kdh.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=502\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EThe wrecked cars in which four of Iran\u2019s nuclear scientists were assassinated in recent years are displayed on the grounds of a museum in Tehran in 2014.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/news-photo\/the-wrecked-cars-in-which-four-of-irans-nuclear-scientists-news-photo\/467875059?adppopup=true\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EScott Peterson\/Getty Images\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy then, the balance of power in the Middle East had changed dramatically. Israel systematically degraded the leadership and infrastructure of Iranian proxies \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c7v7p9p0rn7o\u0022\u003EHamas\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.aei.org\/articles\/israels-victory-in-lebanon\/\u0022\u003EHezbollah\u003C\/a\u003E. It \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/world\/2025\/06\/19\/iran-israel-conflict-history\/\u0022\u003Elater destroyed\u003C\/a\u003E Iranian air defenses around Tehran and near key nuclear installations. The subsequent fall of Syria\u2019s Assad regime \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/world\/assad-regimes-collapse-devastating-defeat-iran-rcna183369\u0022\u003Ecost Tehran another long-standing ally\u003C\/a\u003E. Together, these developments have \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/06\/16\/world\/middleeast\/iran-military-defense.html\u0022\u003Esignificantly weakened Iran\u003C\/a\u003E, leaving it vulnerable to external attack and stripped of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/06\/13\/world\/middleeast\/iran-proxies-axis-hezbollah-israel.html\u0022\u003Eits once-feared proxy network\u003C\/a\u003E, which had been expected to retaliate on its behalf in the event of hostilities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith its proxy \u201caxis of resistance\u201d defanged and conventional military capacity degraded, Iranian leadership may have thought that expanding its enrichment capability was its best bet going forward.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd in the months leading up to Israel\u2019s recent attack, Iran expanded its nuclear production capacity, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cn9yll5yjx5o\u0022\u003Emoving beyond 60% uranium enrichment\u003C\/a\u003E, a technical step just short of weapons-grade material. During Donald Trump\u2019s first term, the president \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2018\/05\/08\/world\/middleeast\/trump-iran-nuclear-deal.html\u0022\u003Ewithdrew the U.S.\u003C\/a\u003E from a multilateral nonproliferation agreement aimed at curbing Iran\u2019s nuclear program. After being reelected, Trump \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/in-talking-with-tehran-trump-is-reversing-course-on-iran-could-a-new-nuclear-deal-be-next-254770\u0022\u003Eappeared to change tack\u003C\/a\u003E by pursuing new diplomacy with Iran, but those talks have so far failed to deliver an agreement \u2013 and may be put on hold for the foreseeable future amid the war.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost recently, the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/iaea-board-declares-iran-breach-non-proliferation-duties-diplomats-say-2025-06-12\/\u0022\u003Edeclared Iran in non-compliance\u003C\/a\u003E with its nuclear-nonproliferation obligations. In response, Iran announced it was \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-nuclear-iaea-sanctions-728b811da537abe942682e13a82ff8bd\u0022\u003Efurther expanding its enrichment capacity\u003C\/a\u003E by adding advanced centrifuge technology and a third enrichment site.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEven if the international community anticipated the broader attack on Iran, characteristics of the targeting itself are surprising. Historically, states have covertly targeted individual scientists. But the recent multiple-scientist attack occurred openly, with Israel taking responsibility, publicly indicating the attacks\u2019 purpose. Further, while it is not new for a country to use multiple counter-proliferation tools against an adversary over time, that Israel is using both \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/goodauthority.org\/news\/israel-june-2025-attack-on-iran-preemptive-or-preventive\/\u0022\u003Epreventive military force\u003C\/a\u003E against infrastructure and targeting scientists at once is atypical.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdditionally, such attacks against scientists are historically lower tech and low cost, with death or injury stemming from gunmen, car bombs or accidents. In fact, Abbasi \u2013 who was killed in the most recent attacks \u2013 survived a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2011\/07\/23\/world\/middleeast\/23iran.html#:%7E:text=acquire%20nuclear%20arms.-,Mr.,Mossad%20and%20the%20United%20States.\u0022\u003E2010 car bombing\u003C\/a\u003E in Tehran. There are outliers, however, including the Fakhrizadeh assassination, which featured a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/09\/18\/world\/middleeast\/iran-nuclear-fakhrizadeh-assassination-israel.html\u0022\u003Eremotely operated machine gun\u003C\/a\u003E smuggled into Iranian territory.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EIsrael\u2019s Logic In Going After Scientists\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhy target nuclear scientists?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn foreign policy, there are numerous tools available if one state aims to prevent another state from acquiring nuclear weapons. Alongside targeting scientists, there are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/journals\/international-organization\/article\/abs\/secret-success-of-nonproliferation-sanctions\/D0090E1163F6962CAD93BFF45A0C7C62\u0022\u003Esanctions\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/obamawhitehouse.archives.gov\/node\/328996\u0022\u003Ediplomacy\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/09636412.2013.816122\u0022\u003Ecyberattacks\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/09636412.2017.1331628\u0022\u003Emilitary force\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETargeting scientists may remove critical scientific expertise and impose costs that increase the difficulty of building nuclear weapons. Proponents argue that targeting these experts may undermine a state\u2019s efforts, deter it from continuing nuclear developments and signal to others the perils of supporting nuclear proliferation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECountries that target scientists therefore believe that doing so is an effective way to degrade an adversary\u2019s nuclear program. Indeed, the Israel Defense Forces \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/x.com\/IDF\/status\/1933830006557286549\u0022\u003Edescribed the most recent attacks\u003C\/a\u003E as \u201ca significant blow to the regime\u2019s ability to acquire weapons of mass destruction.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center \u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022A man\u0026apos;s image appears on a street sign poster.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/675440\/original\/file-20250619-62-u3vgl1.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/675440\/original\/file-20250619-62-u3vgl1.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/675440\/original\/file-20250619-62-u3vgl1.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/675440\/original\/file-20250619-62-u3vgl1.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/675440\/original\/file-20250619-62-u3vgl1.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/675440\/original\/file-20250619-62-u3vgl1.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/675440\/original\/file-20250619-62-u3vgl1.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EPosters featuring images of Iranian nuclear scientists are displayed in Tehran, Iran, on June 14, 2025.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/news-photo\/posters-featuring-images-of-iranian-nuclear-scientists-news-photo\/2219349710?adppopup=true\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EFatemeh Bahrami\/Anadolu via Getty Images\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite Israel\u2019s focus on scientists as sources of critical knowledge, there may be \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nti.org\/education-center\/facilities\/isfahan-esfahan-nuclear-technology-center-intc\/\u0022\u003Ethousands more\u003C\/a\u003E working inside Iran, calling into question the efficacy of targeting them. Further, there are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/brill.com\/view\/journals\/icla\/14\/4-5\/article-p789_7.xml\u0022\u003Elegal, ethical and moral concerns\u003C\/a\u003E over targeting scientists.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMoreover, it is a risky option that may fail to disrupt an enemy nuclear program while sparking public outrage and calls for retaliation. This is especially the case if scientists, often regarded as civilians, are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/middle-east\/iran-news\/article-857593\u0022\u003Eelevated as martyrs\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETargeting campaigns may, as a result, reinforce domestic support for a government, which could then redouble efforts toward nuclear development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERegardless of whether targeting scientists is an effective counter-proliferation tool, it has been around since the start of the nuclear age \u2013 and will likely persist as part of the foreign policy toolkit for states aiming to prevent proliferation. In the case of the current Israeli conflict with Iran and its targeting of nuclear scientists, we expect the tactic to continue for the duration of the war and beyond.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/259263\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/nuclear-scientists-have-long-been-targets-in-covert-ops-israel-has-brought-that-policy-out-of-the-shadows-259263\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAt least 14 nuclear scientists are believed to be among those killed in Israel\u2019s Operation Rising Lion, launched on June 13, 2025, ostensibly to destroy or degrade Iran\u2019s nuclear program and military capabilities.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"At least 14 nuclear scientists are believed to be among those killed in Israel\u2019s Operation Rising Lion, launched on June 13, 2025, ostensibly to destroy or degrade Iran\u2019s nuclear program and military capabilities."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2025-06-24 14:35:34","changed_gmt":"2026-03-19 13:17:15","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-06-19T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-06-19T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677269":{"id":"677269","type":"image","title":"Heavy smoke and fire rise from an oil refinery in southern Tehran","body":"\u003Cp\u003EPortraits of Iranian military generals and nuclear scientists killed in Israel\u2019s June 13, 2025, attack are displayed on a sign as a plume of heavy smoke and fire rise from an oil refinery in southern Tehran. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/news-photo\/portraits-of-iranian-military-generals-and-nuclear-news-photo\/2219542580?adppopup=true\u0022\u003EAtta Kenare\/AFP via Getty Images\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1750778391","gmt_created":"2025-06-24 15:19:51","changed":"1750778391","gmt_changed":"2025-06-24 15:19:51","alt":"Heavy smoke and fire rise from an oil refinery in southern Tehran","file":{"fid":"261152","name":"file-20250619-62-2e3xmo.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/24\/file-20250619-62-2e3xmo.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/24\/file-20250619-62-2e3xmo.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":437986,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/06\/24\/file-20250619-62-2e3xmo.jpg?itok=MmGfs28N"}}},"media_ids":["677269"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/nuclear-scientists-have-long-been-targets-in-covert-ops-israel-has-brought-that-policy-out-of-the-shadows-259263","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"658168","name":"Experts"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71901","name":"Society and Culture"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/jenna-jordan-2416124\u0022\u003EJenna Jordan\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor and associate chair, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/rachel-whitlark-2416125\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERachel Whitlark\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}