“We’re doing this so that our children, and all of Israel’s children, can have a safer future.”
By Eliana Fleming, JFeed
An Israeli Air Force husband-and-wife duo, identified only as “Yud” and “Bet” due to security protocols, played pivotal roles in Operation
Rising Lion, the June 2025 bombing campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure.
Yud, the first woman to serve as deputy commander of a fighter squadron in Israel’s history, and Bet, a squadron commander set to lead a fighter squadron, shared their experiences with Channel 12.
The couple, parents to two young children, were separated from their family for two weeks during the intense air campaign, relying on relatives and friends to care for their children while they conducted high-risk missions over Iranian skies.
Reflecting on the emotional toll, Yud said:
“It was a different hug, toward an unknown place. We didn’t know how these two weeks would end. We prepared, we got ready, we knew it would be difficult. And as we saw, unfortunately, we experienced losses on the home front of civilians being killed, civilians who were under rocket fire.”
Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks killed 28 Israelis and injured thousands, devastating residential areas, universities, and a hospital.
Despite these challenges, Yud remained steadfast, stating:
“On the one hand, it was not simple, knowing the home front was under fire. On the other hand, there is the thought and knowledge that what we’re doing is so that they will have a better future, without an Iranian threat.”
The couple compartmentalized their emotions to focus on the mission. Yud explained:
“I know what he’s fighting for. I was there yesterday; I know the threat picture, and I’m not worried. On the other hand, I looked at the plane monitors and made sure our jets crossed the line back safely, and then I stayed for another five minutes to watch and make sure he came back safely too.”
Their strikes targeted key sites like Natanz and Fordow, crippling Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Yud concluded, “We’re doing this so that our children, and all of Israel’s children, can have a safer future.”
