Tensions between Israel and Iran exploded into open conflict on June 13, 2025, when the Israel Defense Forces launched a major air assault on Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure.
In a response, Iran retaliated almost an hour ago with a barrage of attack drones and missiles, in a direct military confrontation between the two nations. This escalation has triggered global alarm and raised fears of a broader regional war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the operation aims to eliminate the existential threat posed by Iran, drawing flawed historical parallels to the Holocaust.
“Israel’s operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat,” he said in a TV address. “Generations from now, history will record our generation stood its ground, acted in time and secured our common future.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of initiating the strikes and starting a war.
U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iran to halt the escalation by negotiating a deal on its nuclear program, stating it’s not too late for Tehran to do so.
The strikes killed key Iranian military leaders, including General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s Armed Forces Chief.
Israel’s military confirmed striking Iranian missile and drone launching sites, including another nuclear site in Isfahan. Air defenses were activated across Tehran, and explosions were heard in Isfahan.
Almost an hour ago, Iran retaliated by launching approximately 300 missiles at Israel, with footages of many impacts inside central Israel.
The international community is bracing for potential repercussions, with the United Nations Security Council set to convene and discuss the escalating situation. The conflict has raised fears of a broader Middle East conflict, with proxy groups loyal to Iran already beginning to mobilize .