June 2025 Israeli strikes on Iran

On 13 June 2025 at 3:00 am (GMT+3), the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck Iran.^[5] Codenamed Operation Rising Lion,^[6][a] the Israeli government called the strikes a response to Iran's enrichment of weapon-grade uranium to a level enough for 15 nuclear weapons.^[8]

Iran and Israel were friendly until 1979. Since then, they have been enemies. Iranian leaders, including Ali Khamenei and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have been calling for Israel's destruction. It also arms Islamist groups worldwide, including the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Hamas,^[9] which committed the worst massacres of Jews since the end of the Holocaust.^[10]

The strikes happened when the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found that Iran refused to follow its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NNPT).^[11]

Dozens of Israeli jets bombed military and nuclear sites across Iran, including the enrichment facilities in Fordow, Natanz,^[6] and Isfahan.^[12] The IDF said that its jets were operating freely over Tehran, targeting Iran's leadership, nuclear sites and key infrastructure.^[13] The IAEA claimed that almost all of the 15,000 Natanz centrifuges had been destroyed.^[14] By 19 June, one-third of Iran's missile launchers were destroyed ‒ three days before the U.S. bombed Iran's nuclear sites.^[15]

Mossad agents targeted Iran's missile and air defense systems before the strikes.^[16] Particularly, Mossad commandos put precision-guided weapons near surface-to-air missile systems, enabling them to be bombed accurately.^[16] Secret drones had also been smuggled into Tehran, which then struck the Esfajabad missile base^[b] to destroy its launchers.^[7]

Iran sent 100 drones to attack Israel, which were intercepted beyond Israel's borders.^[17] Iran also fired 100+ missiles at Israel, some landing in Tel Aviv.^[18] On 19 June, Iranian missiles hit the Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva, Israel.^[19] The attack was condemned by the World Medical Association as a war crime.^[20] Another missile hit a busy business area in Ramat Gan. Some critics called it an "exploitation of Israel's urban defense challenges to terrorize civilians".^[21]

In the early morning of 22 June, seven USAF B-2 bombers^[22] conducted the "Operation Midnight Hammer" to bomb the Fordo and Natanz nuclear sites.^[22] They dropped 30,000 pounds of bunker busters, followed by two Tomahawk missile strikes on Isfahan's nuclear site, marking the first use of such bombs^[23] and the largest B-2 bomber mission in history ‒ involving 125 aircraft when fighter jets and refueling planes are counted in.^[24] Trump said that the Iranian nuclear sites had been "completely and totally obliterated".^[23][25] Iran fired missiles at American bases in Qatar on 23 June.^[26] On the same night, Israel and Iran reportedly reached a ceasefire.^[27]

By 3:33 am (GMT+3) on 14 June, one woman died from Iranian missile attacks, while 40 were injured.^[1] The death toll rose to 3 by 2:30 pm,^[2] and to 13 by 12:36 pm on 15 June.^[28]

At least 20 senior Iranian commanders were killed,^[29] including Hossein Salami,^[c] Mohammad Bagheri, Gholam Ali Rashid, Ali Shamkhani, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, and Fereydoon Abbasi.^[31] On 13 June, Iranian sources alleged that Israel killed 78 and wounded 329.^[32] On 18 June, human rights group HRANA claimed 585.^[33] On 19 June, Iranian sources changed the death toll to 639,^[3] while Iranian missiles hit the Soroka hospital in Israel.^[19]

Prime Minister Edi Rama backed Trump's bombing of Iran's nuclear sites:^[34]

President Javier Milei celebrated Trump's bombing as "a great day for Western civilization".^[35]

A government spokesperson said:^[36]

Chancellor Christian Stocker stated:^[37]

Foreign minister and deputy prime minister Maxime Prévot said:^[38]

Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated:^[39]

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said:^[40]

European Commission's President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized Israel's right of self-defense, calling for diplomacy to prevent escalation.^[41]

French President Emmanuel Macron backed Israel's right of self-defense, saying that Iran has been repeatedly condemned over its nuclear program.^[42]

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz backed Israel's "right to defend its existence and the security of its citizens", highlighting Iran's refusal to follow its NNPT obligations.^[42] Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul condemned the "indiscriminate Iranian attack on Israeli territory in the strongest terms", while DW analysts wrote that Germany was "facing a tough foreign policy test" due to its "historical responsibility to Israel and international law".^[43] On 17 June, Merz added that Israel was "doing the world's dirty work in Iran" when the "mullah regime has brought death and destruction to the world".^[44]

Israeli lawmakers generally supported the strikes. Amit Halevy, a Likud lawmaker, compared the Iranian regime to the Nazi regime:^[45]

On 19 June, Defense Minister Israel Katz compared Khamenei to Hitler after Iranian missiles hit Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva.^[19] At night, Officials including Katz, Netanyahu, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer met Trump government officials led by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, while Trump said that he would decide the possibility of US intervention in the war within two weeks.^[46]

Jordan activated air sirens as Iranian drones crossed its airspace,^[17] while condemning Israel's strikes on Iran.^[47]

Prime Minister Evika Siliņa said: "Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon ... US addressed this serious threat to international security."^[48]

Poland's defense minister planned to evacuate Polish citizens from Israel.^[49]

The Qatari government, closely linked to the Hamas, called Israel's strikes "a dangerous escalation".^[47]

The Saudis condemned Israel's strikes on what they called "the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran".^[47]

The Ukrainian government called Iran's regime "the source of problems".^[50] After the U.S. bombed Iran's nuclear sites, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised the strikes, citing Iran's aid to Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.^[51]

The Emiratis made a similar condemnation to that of the Saudis.^[47]

British sources claimed that British jets were not involved in defending Israel, but that changes could occur as the conflict evovles.^[52] The British Prime Minister has been criticized for appeasing the Iranian regime.^[53] The critics include former home secretary Suella Braverman and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who declared that "Iran must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons".^[53] After the U.S. bombed Iran's nuclear sites, the Prime Minister said:^[54]

Two American destroyers have been sent to the region.^[55] The US military was helping Israel intercept Iranian missiles.^[56]

President Donald Trump reportedly called a cabinet meeting.^[57] He told Iran to "make a deal or face slaughter",^[58] warning Iran of "more brutal attacks".^[59] He also told the Axios that "Israel's attack could help me make [a] deal with Iran [...] I gave Iran 60 days, today is day 61".^[60] Trump demanded an unconditional surrender from the Iranian regime on 17 June.^[61]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied US involvement, warning Iran not to target Americans.^[57][62]

Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said that he wanted further nuclear talks with Iranian officials, who refused to do so.^[60]

Senator Lindsey Graham called the Israeli strikes on Iran "one of the most impressive military strikes in Israeli history".^[63]

• Six-Day War
• Yom Kippur War
• Israel-Hamas war