Raid on the Sun: The Operation Opera (an iconic preemptive airstrikes in modern military history)
Raid on the Sun: Inside Israel's Secret Campaign that Denied Saddam the Bomb
Raid on the Sun: The Operation Opera
In the quiet hours of June 7, 1981, a squadron of Israeli fighter jets roared across the skies of the Middle East was unseen and unexpected. Their destination was the Osirak nuclear reactor near Baghdad, Iraq. Their mission was to destroy it before it could be completed. This daring strike, known as Operation Opera, it is also called the Raid on the Sun it has completely changed the course of Middle Eastern military strategy and nuclear diplomacy forever. It was a high-risk operation carried out with surgical precision, and its legacy continues to ignite debate to this day. This post revisits the context, planning, execution, and impact of one of the most iconic preemptive airstrikes in modern military history.
If you are looking to dive deeper into this mission, Roger W. Claire’s book
"Raid on the Sun: Inside Israel’s Secret Campaign that Denied Saddam the
Bomb" is a must-read one. Claire's investigative narrative provides gripping
details and behind the scenes insights that bring the entire mission to life
for the common people.
Iraq's Nuclear Ambitions:
By the late 1970s, Iraq, under the rule of Saddam Hussein, had begun
constructing a nuclear reactor near Baghdad with the help of France (a
permanent member of the UN Security Council). Officially, the Osirak (or
Tammuz 1) reactor was meant for peaceful purposes. But in Israel and among
many Western analysts, there was strong suspicion that the reactor could be
used to produce weapons-grade plutonium.
For Israel, a nuclear-armed Iraq, ruled by an unstable and openly hostile regime, was considered an existential threat. Iraq had already fought wars with Iran and had a history of using chemical weapons. The idea of Saddam Hussein possessing nuclear capability terrified the Israeli leadership. Prime Minister Menachem Begin and his cabinet took the position that they could not wait for the world to act. The doctrine that emerged from this threat became known as the Begin Doctrine: "Israel will not allow an enemy state to develop weapons of mass destruction against it."
Intelligence Gathering and International Warnings:
Israel was not acting blindly. Mossad had already been tracking Iraq’s
nuclear progress for years. Satellite imagery, human intelligence sources,
and diplomatic reports pointed to a timeline that the reactor would become
operational by 1981 or early 1982. Several warnings were made to France and
the international community. Israel attempted diplomatic solutions to halt
the reactor's progress. French engineers were even targeted by sabotage,
believed to be conducted by Israeli agents, though never officially
confirmed. Despite these efforts, the project went forward. Israel believed
that once the reactor was fueled, any attack would risk radioactive fallout
that could kill thousands of civilians. That narrowed the window for a
strike.
The Mission Planning: Precision, Secrecy, and Risk:
Planning for Operation Opera began months in advance. Israel knew that flying
across enemy airspace would expose their jets to detection and potential
counterattack. The operation required flying nearly 1,000 miles round trip,
across Jordanian and Saudi airspace, without being detected or engaged.
Key Elements of Operation:
| Elements | Action Planning |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Chosen | 8, F-16 Fighting Falcons (brand new at the time) and 6 F-15 Eagles as escorts. |
| Refueling | The jets were loaded with extra fuel tanks to make the long journey without needing aerial refueling. |
| Timing | The attack was planned for a Sunday afternoon, hoping the reactor would be less populated. |
| Altitude Strategy | Planes flew extremely low (around 100 feet off the ground) to evade radar. |
| Weapons | Each F-16 carried two 2,000-pound bombs and two drop tanks. |
The pilots chosen were among the best in the Israeli Air Force. They trained
using mockups of the Osirak facility constructed in the Negev Desert.
The Strike: June 7, 1981
At 3:55 PM Israel time, the fighter jets crossed into Jordanian airspace. Flying low over the desert to avoid radar, they followed a straight path toward Baghdad. They maintained strict radio silence throughout. At 5:35 PM local time, the jets reached their target. The pilots ascended and released their bombs in rapid succession. Within less than two minutes, the Osirak reactor was destroyed. The dome of the building collapsed. The facility was left in ruins. Remarkably, the entire strike lasted less than 90 seconds. All 14 jets returned safely to Israel without engagement from Iraqi defenses.
Immediate Aftermath: Global Shockwaves:
The world was stunned. Israel had unilaterally destroyed a nuclear facility in another sovereign nation without warning. The UN Security Council condemned the strike in Resolution 487. Even the United States, Israel's closest ally, initially denounced the action as a violation of international law. Iraq claimed civilian casualties, although later reports showed the site was largely empty. The reactor was not yet operational, meaning no radioactive fallout occurred. France and Italy, who had helped build the reactor, demanded answers. The global community was torn: some viewed it as a dangerous precedent, while others quietly acknowledged Israel had likely prevented a greater future crisis.
Long-Term Impact and Repercussions:
1. Iraq's Nuclear Program Set Back
The Osirak reactor was never rebuilt. Iraq's ambitions for a
nuclear weapon were pushed back by at least a decade. When the Gulf War erupted
in 1991, U.S. forces found Iraq's nuclear capabilities far from operational.
2. Precedent for Preventive Strikes
Operation Opera became a case study for preemptive military
action. It influenced future Israeli operations, including the 2007 strike on
Syria’s nuclear reactor (Operation Outside the Box). It also shaped American
military doctrine.
3. Regional Power Shift
Israel demonstrated its reach and intelligence capabilities.
For Arab nations, it was a wake-up call about Israel's willingness to act
decisively to ensure its security.
4. Domestic Israeli Politics
Though initially criticized, Prime Minister Begin gained
strong domestic support. The strike was later seen as a major success in
Israeli defense history.
Criticisms and Ethical Debates
Despite the operation's success, many critics raised
concerns:
- Violation of Sovereignty: Israel struck a nation that was not in open war with it.
- UN Condemnation: Bypassing international diplomatic efforts set a risky precedent.
- Could Diplomacy Have Worked? Some argue that international pressure could have halted Iraq’s nuclear ambitions without a strike.
Yet others point out that had the strike not occurred, Iraq
might have become a nuclear-armed state by the late 1980s, with unpredictable
consequences for the entire Middle East.
Operation Opera and International Law
The debate over legality continues even today. Article 51 of the UN Charter allows self-defense if an armed attack occurs. Israel argued that waiting would mean risking nuclear war. The doctrine of anticipatory self-defense, used in this case, remains controversial. It raises the question: How imminent must a threat be to justify a preemptive strike?
Operation Opera's Legacy
Forty years later, Operation Opera remains a defining moment
in Middle Eastern military history. It demonstrated:
- The reach and precision of modern air forces
- The risks nations will take to defend against existential threats
- The limits of international diplomacy in confronting secret weapons programs
It also laid the groundwork for how nations view nuclear proliferation in volatile regions.
Roger Claire's book Raid on the Sun captures these
complexities vividly. Through firsthand interviews and detailed analysis,
Claire's work is not only an informative resource but a gripping narrative that
places the reader inside the cockpit and the situation room.
The Raid on the Sun was more than a military mission. It was
a message to the world: existential threats demand action, and waiting for
consensus may come too late. Israel took a gamble that day, and it paid off.
The operation not only reshaped military strategy but also marked a turning
point in global understanding of nuclear risk. Operation Opera remains a story
of courage, controversy, and the difficult decisions nations must make in the
shadow of annihilation. History may judge, but the skies over Osirak have never
been the same.
