Killing scientists’ families is not a strategy but a moral collapse

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Killing scientists’ families is not a strategy but a moral collapse

2025 Jun 24, 7:33am 640 views 39 comments

Israel’s campaign of assassinations has moved beyond military targets — now it’s wiping out the families of scientists in their homes, and calling it strategy.

By Nadezhda Romanenko, political analyst

The recent revelation that Iranian nuclear scientist Mostafa Sadati-Armaki was killed along with his entire family – his wife, two daughters, and son – in an Israeli airstrike should stop even hardened strategists in their tracks. This wasn’t just a precision strike. It was an execution of a household.

Sadati-Armaki was not a senior official. He was a mid-level scientist—an engineer working within Iran’s nuclear framework. That role may have made him a target in the logic of modern conflict. But nothing, not even that logic, can justify killing his children in their own home.

This wasn’t an isolated incident. On June 13, at least five other nuclear scientists were killed in Israeli strikes across Tehran: Fereydoon Abbasi, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, Abdolhamid Minouchehr, Ahmadreza Zolfaghari Daryani, and Seyed Amir Hossein Feghhi. Their credentials tied them to Iran’s nuclear program. All had played some role, technical or administrative, in Iran’s nuclear development. None were combatants. Most were academics. Some had already retired from state positions.

Crucially, they weren’t alone. In multiple reported cases, family members died alongside them. Wives. Daughters. The daughter of a senior official.

These were not errant missiles landing in crowded urban spaces. These were targeted strikes on homes, in residential areas, at night, when families were together. This isn’t the fog of war. It is its deliberate weaponization. The children didn’t make enrichment policy. The spouses didn’t oversee uranium labs. But they died because of proximity—because they were related to someone deemed dangerous.

To call this “collateral damage” is cowardice. When decision-makers approve a strike on a home, knowing who sleeps inside, the outcome is no longer an accident. It is a choice.

Some argue that in an asymmetrical war, deterrence must be personal. But this is not deterrence—it’s liquidation. It suggests that no civilian life adjacent to state infrastructure is worth preserving. It sends the message that not even scientists’ families will be spared, as if moral limits are luxuries we can no longer afford.

This is not a defense of Iran’s nuclear posture. It is a defense of the basic principle that families—children—cannot be combatants. If we abandon that line, we are not winning anything. We are declaring that fear is stronger than law, that vengeance is smarter than diplomacy.

Killing scientists’ families doesn’t dismantle programs. It doesn’t prevent future threats. It only makes peace more remote and retaliation more likely. What we normalize now, others will imitate later.

This is not strength. It is strategic and moral collapse. And if this is where warfare is headed, then everyone—regardless of nationality—should be deeply, urgently afraid.

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FuckTheMainstreamMedia 2025 Jun 24, 7:52pm

WookieMan says

RayAmerica says

I think another act of fairness would be to force all of the supporters of Israel's Genocide in Gaza to actually move to Gaza. Then let's see if they so self-righteously proclaim Israel's justification for what they are doing to innocent people.

Not a fan of Israel. But they literally had to create a missile defense system with the help of the USA. Why? Didn't have to be this way. How would you feel if your neighbor lit bags of shit on your porch every night? Not just one night. Every night.

I'm not pro Israel, but come one dude, they're surrounded by adversaries. If I had shitty neighbors I'd make a stink about it.

It’s almost as though Israel was never invaded by all neighboring nations twice in its brief modern history.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Arab–Israeli_War

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War

PeopleUnited 2025 Jun 24, 7:55pm

RayPalestine says

innocent people.

Gazans allow Hamas terrorists to run rampant. If the Gazan people want peace, they need to show Hamas the door, rise up and fight the terrorists themselves rather than acquiescing to Islamic lies and violence.

11 yawaraf 2025 Jun 24, 8:01pm

PeopleUnited says

RayAmerica says

innocent people.

Gazans allow Hamas terrorists to run rampant. If the Gazan people want peace, they need to show Hamas the door, rise up and fight the terrorists themselves rather than acquiescing to Islamic lies and violence.

There was a hostage who had escaped, but "ordinary" Gazans captured him and returned him to his captors. I don't think any one can avoid joining one side if he finds himself in the middle of a battlefield.

TheAntiPanicanLearingCenter 2025 Jun 24, 8:03pm

FuckTheMainstreamMedia says

It’s almost as though Israel was never invaded by all neighboring nations twice in its brief modern history.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Arab%E2%80%93Israeli_War

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War

Yep. Three times! 1973. There were also myriad border incursions and raids 1948-1965 from Syria, Jordan, etc.

TheAntiPanicanLearingCenter 2025 Jun 24, 8:05pm

RayAmerica says

I think another act of fairness would be to force all of the supporters of Israel's Genocide in Gaza to actually move to Gaza. Then let's see if they so self-righteously proclaim Israel's justification for what they are doing to innocent people.

How about all the people whinging about poor Gaza and their elected Hamas government go fight the IDF in Gaza?

RWSGFY 2025 Jun 24, 10:02pm

This is why Russians and USsians are upset:

RWSGFY 2025 Jun 24, 10:03pm

Hey, @RayAmerica, how come your great moral humanitarian ass is silent on daily bombings of civilians by the Red Army?

Bd6r 2025 Jun 25, 1:30am

RWSGFY says

Hey, RayAmerica, how come your great moral humanitarian ass is silent on daily bombings of civilians by the Red Army?

BUT THAT IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. LIKELY CGI.

PeopleUnited 2025 Jun 25, 8:57am

yawaraf says

PeopleUnited says

RayPalestine says

innocent people.

Gazans allow Hamas terrorists to run rampant. If the Gazan people want peace, they need to show Hamas the door, rise up and fight the terrorists themselves rather than acquiescing to Islamic lies and violence.

There was a hostage who had escaped, but "ordinary" Gazans captured him and returned him to his captors. I don't think any one can avoid joining one side if he finds himself in the middle of a battlefield.

That is my point. “Ordinary Gazans” support Hamas terrorists. In other words they are NOT innocent civilians but rather supporters of terrorists.

Tenpoundbass 2025 Jun 25, 12:32pm

This conflict isn't pretty, but it's very necessary. Hopefully when all will be said and done, Lindsey Graham and his aides will be out of work.

TDS Narrative: "Trump is going to get us in a nuclear war with Iran!"

(Trump takes out Iran's nuke capabilities.)

TDS Narrative: "Trump is despicable!"

TheAntiPanicanLearingCenter 2025 Jun 25, 2:11pm

I can't believe what happened to Gaza

This is a war crime.

RayAmerica 2025 Jun 25, 2:40pm

PeopleUnited says

Gazans allow Hamas terrorists to run rampant. If the Gazan people want peace, they need to show Hamas the door, rise up and fight the terrorists themselves rather than acquiescing to Islamic lies and violence.

Kind of like the Jews and other opponents of the Nazi state, right? I mean (I mean YOU mean) that all that was necessary was for the oppressed people to 'rise up' and show those Nazis the 'door.' Same thing in the totalitarian Communist countries. It's the innocent victims fault for not rising up and showing their heavily armed oppressors the 'door.'

RayAmerica 2025 Jun 25, 2:42pm

PeopleUnited says

That is my point. “Ordinary Gazans” support Hamas terrorists. In other words they are NOT innocent civilians but rather supporters of terrorists.

Same goofy analogy. Amazingly, you are claiming that ALL ordinary Gazans support Hamas terrorists. Blame the victim. How very 'christian' of you (little 'c' on purpose).

PeopleUnited 2025 Jun 25, 5:02pm

The Gaza people are not victims, they chose Hamas. But it sure is nice to know RayPalestine’s true colors.

RayAmerica 2025 Jun 25, 5:09pm

PeopleUnited says

The Gaza people are not victims, they chose Hamas. But it sure is nice to know RayPalestine’s true colors.

Got it. ALL 'Gaza people,' including women & children (presuming of course that you consider women & children 'people') "chose Hamas.

Calling me "RayPalestine" is not only extremely childish, it is also kind of creepy, but it is at least consistent with you casting your 'self righteous' all-knowing, all-seeing, able to judge ALL people's hearts collectively judgment upon everyone in Gaza. Are you not aware of the fact that there are actual Christians, including missionaries, that are living in the death zone of Gaza? Amazing ! And you call yourself a 'christian?' (small 'c' on purpose).

TheAntiPanicanLearingCenter 2025 Jun 25, 5:26pm

Remember @PeopleUnited, every American is responsible for America, but turd worlders who dance and share videos millions of times and hand out candy when civilian buildings are destroyed, thousands die, dance parties and sleepy villages (ironically of Peaceniks) are slaughtered down, and rape kidnap victims, are NOT responsible for their leaders.

This is the "Antiwar" and "Peace Activist" MO throughout the past century. Turd World Barbarians and Authoritarian Violence Always Good, Western Violence Always Bad (even when limited to political-military targets). This includes events that don't involve Israel at all, like clamping down on the Thugee Cult or pursuing Malaysian Communists.

25 goofus 2025 Jun 25, 6:18pm

Q: Are people in functioning democracies more or less culpable for their government than those under authoritarian regimes?

Palestine hasn’t had an election since 2013, and only sporadically before that:

Elections in Palestine are held sporadically. Elections for the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) were held in Palestinian Autonomous areas from 1994 until their transition into the State of Palestine in 2013. Elections were scheduled to be held in 2009,[1] but was postponed because of the Fatah–Hamas conflict.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Palestine

TheAntiPanicanLearingCenter 2025 Jun 25, 6:20pm

Yep, Hamas said it would be the final election, and the majority that voted for them accepted that when they pulled the lever.

TheAntiPanicanLearingCenter 2025 Jun 25, 6:24pm

"Moral Collapse"

And STILL the Israelis use knock-knock bombs, flyers, warnings, etc.

28 goofus 2025 Jun 25, 6:26pm

I’ll just say I’m grateful for those who don’t conflate citizens with their govt’s policy. Lived abroad during the second Iraq war (Switzerland), and no one attacked regular Americans over Bush’s war.

Collectivist punishment is the hallmark of leftists. The real “woke.” Sad to see it on the right.

PeopleUnited 2025 Jun 25, 7:21pm

Don’t be retarded. Calling Hamas victims is deception of the highest order.

Here are the ideals every true American espouses. This document clearly states that governments (even dictatorships) derive their powers from the weapons they control right? No, just read it for yourself and remember what it means.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident...

Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

30 goofus 2025 Jun 25, 7:28pm

PeopleUnited says

Don’t be retarded. Calling Hamas victims is deception of the highest order.

Here are the ideals every true American espouses. This document clearly states that governments (even dictatorships) derive their powers from the weapons they control right? No, just read it for yourself and remember what it means.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident...

Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

Did the founding fathers consider Georgian rule to be “consent of the governed”? Is every people unable to rebel therefore complicit in the government they were born into?

Your analysis is Brawndo-level, speaking of retarded.

PeopleUnited 2025 Jun 25, 7:37pm

The founding fathers put their beliefs down and you can read them for yourself.

If you choose to ignore their plain meaning then you can continue to live in ignorance. If one man can’t change the government, then how many men does it take? Consider what power people have, then you can begin to understand that men decide to support or change government. Government has no power except from consent of the governed. People choose, First one, then 10, and then 10,000. No matter how many it takes, it is based on consent. Government has no power that the people can’t override if they decide it is not in their best interest.

What did Patrick Henry say?

32 goofus 2025 Jun 25, 7:45pm

Few men are willing to die for ideals, and even fewer if the metaphorical deck is stacked impossibly high. Did we blame average Russians for their soviet government, or sympathize with them and help them to overcome it? That was the older (“greatest”) generation’s ethos, back when cooler heads prevailed.

PeopleUnited 2025 Jun 25, 7:46pm

AmericanKulakMaximumTrumper says

Remember PeopleUnited, every American is responsible for America, but turd worlders who dance and share videos millions of times and hand out candy when civilian buildings are destroyed, thousands die, dance parties and sleepy villages (ironically of Peaceniks) are slaughtered down, and rape kidnap victims, are NOT responsible for their leaders.

This is the "Antiwar" and "Peace Activist" MO throughout the past century. Turd World Barbarians and Authoritarian Violence Always Good, Western Violence Always Bad (even when limited to political-military targets). This includes events that don't involve Israel at all, like clamping down on the Thugee Cult or pursuing Malaysian Communists.

The Joo haters are the true self righteous. They are jealous of the fact the God made a promise to them that will never be broken. Promises given to a literal descendent of Abraham that doesn’t apply to those who are not. Now the ground is level at the cross, and anyone can be saved as Jesus said. The true test of a Christian’s faith however is do they believe everything that God says? Joo haters do not because if they did they would have to accept that fact that God will protect the children of Israel even when they have crucified His son. Israel is the centerpiece of human past, present and future. If this bothers someone, they ought to analyze their faith.

TheAntiPanicanLearingCenter 2025 Jun 25, 7:50pm

100%

"For the promises of God are irrevocable" - Romans 11

PeopleUnited 2025 Jun 25, 7:57pm

goofus says

Few men are willing to die for ideals, and even fewer if the metaphorical deck is stacked impossibly high. Did we blame average Russians for their soviet government, or sympathize with them and help them to overcome it? That was the older (“greatest”) generation’s ethos, back when cooler heads prevailed.

Israel is dong just that! Trying to help eliminate Hamas so that the Gaza people have a chance at good government. Israel is the hero in this story!!!

36 goofus 2025 Jun 25, 8:01pm

PeopleUnited says

goofus says

Few men are willing to die for ideals, and even fewer if the metaphorical deck is stacked impossibly high. Did we blame average Russians for their soviet government, or sympathize with them and help them to overcome it? That was the older (“greatest”) generation’s ethos, back when cooler heads prevailed.

Israel is dong just that! Trying to help eliminate Hamas so that the Gaza people have a chance at good government. Israel is the hero in this story!!!

But we didn’t kill untold numbers in doing that. 400k are missing and presumed dead in 2.5 years.

It’s ok to criticize Israel. No sacred cows.

PeopleUnited 2025 Jun 25, 8:07pm

Bullshit. Hamas lies.

It is Ok to criticize Israel. The make tons of mistakes. But they are the heroes in this story, every peaceful moslem who lives in Israel is treated with respect and dignity, and the government of Israel defends all Israelis regardless of faith. Israel is calling for Gazans and Iranians to rise up against the Islamic dictatorship. Israel is the hero of the story.

RayAmerica 2025 Jun 26, 8:14am

PeopleUnited says

the government of Israel defends all Israelis regardless of faith.

You are really, really misinformed. First off, Orthodox Rabbis and Jews that oppose the secular Zionist State of Israel, due entirely to their understanding that the only way for Jews to be given the 'land' Scripturally was through obedience to God's commandments, which of course that was not done. (The Zionists instead introduced terrorism in that region, and they have been 'dying by the sword' ever since). As a consequence, the Israeli government has literally harassed and persecuted these Orthodox Jews & Rabbis and it continues to this very day. Also, it is against Israeli Law for Christians to 'proselytize' (aka, evangelize) Israeli Jews, so the Gospel of Christ is illegal (to an extent) in Israel. You might spend some time researching what the Babylonian Talmud has to say about Christ and then get back to us and tell us how much they 'defend' the Christian faith.

PeopleUnited 2025 Jun 27, 10:32am

More retardation. Israel defends its citizens and residents against terrorists. Gaza is run by terrorists, and funded by Iranian State sponsors of terrorism.

RayPalestine says

Calling me "RayPalestine" is

I’m glad you like it. If the Burka fits, wear it.

You have ZDS (Zionist derangement syndrome).

To those with ZDS the government of Israel is not only wrong but illegitimate. There is nothing Israelis can do in the minds of ZDS brainwashed useful idiots except lay their necks out for the Islamic terrorists to sever from their corrupt Joo bodies.

ZDS is not a disease, it is a symptom of a deep spiritual problem which can only be fixed by God in repentance to His word.

RayPalestine says

Nadezhda Romanenko

Romanenko is a prolific opinion writer for Russia Today columns. Russia is hardly neutral on Israel and has sided with Islamic terrorists from Iran, promoted the former Assad Syrian regime, and is basically decidedly anti-Israel. Many believe that in the last days, and perhaps near future, Russia and Turkey and Iran will join forces in a coalition of many nations to take Israel by force. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me at the moment, but due to their alliance with Iran and perhaps their adversarial relationships with the west, perhaps they could decide to put troops on the ground driving towards Tel Aviv or Jerusalem if circumstances suggest there is something to be gained. I would think the US would have to be further weakened or turn its back on Israel for such a thing to occur, but anything is possible. Trump is fickle, and also old. Things can change rapidly.

patrick.net

Killing scientists’ families is not a strategy but a moral collapse

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