Israel/Iran A major military confrontation is underway between Israel and Iran, with both nations exchanging missile and airstrikes in the most significant escalation in their longstanding hostilities. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched a sweeping air campaign early Friday, June 13, targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure—marking Israel’s most extensive military operation against Iran to date.
Massive Preemptive Strikes by Israel
In the early hours of Friday, over 200 Israeli aircraft, including advanced F-35I Adir fighter jets, carried out coordinated strikes on more than 100 targets across Iran. The offensive focused on key nuclear sites, including the Natanz enrichment facility—where plumes of black smoke were observed—as well as installations in Fordow and Isfahan. According to Israeli sources, the strikes eliminated senior Iranian military figures, including Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami, Chief of Staff Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, Emergency Forces Commander Gholam Rashid, and at least six top nuclear scientists.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later confirmed that the operation had been meticulously planned since November 2024 and was initially scheduled for April but postponed. The IDF stated that the strikes were preemptive in nature, aimed at thwarting Iran’s imminent nuclear weapons capability. Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon asserted that intelligence confirmed Iran was “days away” from producing sufficient fissile material for multiple nuclear weapons, calling the strikes “an act of national preservation.”
Iranian Retaliation and Civilian Casualties
Iran responded with a series of retaliatory missile attacks. By Saturday morning, June 14, air raid sirens sounded across Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as waves of Iranian ballistic missiles and UAVs penetrated Israeli airspace. According to Iranian state media, over 150 missiles were launched in the initial retaliation, resulting in at least 41 injuries, including several in critical condition in Tel Aviv. Iranian media also reported further Israeli airstrikes on the cities of Tabriz and Shiraz.
Iran’s UN Ambassador announced that 78 people, most of them civilians, had been killed and over 320 wounded in the Israeli attacks, which targeted nuclear personnel and infrastructure. Explosions were also reported near Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport on Saturday morning, suggesting further Israeli strikes or sabotage activity.
UN and Global Reaction
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), confirmed to the UN Security Council that the above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Natanz had been destroyed. Investigations into damage at Fordow and Isfahan are ongoing. Grossi warned of the profound consequences for regional nuclear stability.
The international community has expressed deep concern over the escalation. The United Nations has called for an immediate ceasefire, urging both nations to exercise restraint.
United States Response
Although Israel had reportedly informed the Trump administration of its intentions in advance, the United States has publicly stated that it was not involved in the military operation. In an interview with Fox News, President Donald Trump confirmed the strikes were carried out unilaterally by Israel. However, U.S. ground-based air defense systems deployed in the region were activated to intercept Iranian missiles targeting Tel Aviv.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that Washington’s top priority is the protection of American forces and personnel in the Middle East. President Trump has convened an emergency meeting of his national security cabinet to monitor developments.
Meanwhile, Iran’s envoy to the UN has accused the United States of complicity in the Israeli attack and declared that Washington bears “full responsibility for the consequences.”
Situation Ongoing
The Israeli military has declared a nationwide state of emergency, shuttering schools and public offices, and banning large gatherings. The IDF has stated that it is prepared for an extended campaign that could last up to two weeks. Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed the operation would continue “as long as necessary.”
Both nations remain on high alert amid fears of a broader regional conflict. With skies over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem still echoing with sirens and missile intercepts, the world watches with mounting concern as a long-feared confrontation unfolds in real time.
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