Operation Opera

Operation Opera was a secret Israeli military attack in 1981 targeting Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor, which was under construction. Israel believed the reactor could be used to develop nuclear weapons, posing a threat to its security. To prevent this, Israeli fighters launched a surprise airstrike, destroying the reactor before it became operational. The operation exemplifies preemptive action taken to neutralize perceived existential threats and has been studied as an example of strategic military intervention in global security debates.