Operation Opera: Israel stopped Saddam Hussein from getting nuclear weapons
![](https://centerforsecuritypolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AdobeStock_415434560_Editorial_Use_Only.jpg)
VanderWolf Images - stock.adobe.com
On June 7, 1981, eight Israeli fighter jets launched a strike targeting Iraq’s nuclear reactor. Dubbed Operation Opera, this daring mission marked the first successful raid ever conducted against a nuclear reactor. The mission would set the stage for the Begin Doctrine, Israel’s counter-proliferation policy that allows for preventive strikes against adversaries seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction. Despite immediate international condemnation of Israel following the operation, the destruction of the Osirak reactor prevented Iraq from reaching a nuclear-capable threshold.
Latest posts by Maya Carlin (see all)
- Nimitz-class aircraft carrier Stennis has a problem - August 14, 2024
- AbramsX: The US Army wants a new revolutionary tank like no other - August 13, 2024
- The Air Force’s B-2 bomber is facing a sad reality - August 12, 2024