Tehran/Jerusalem, June 13, 2025 – On the morning of June 13 Israel began Operation Rising Lion, marking its largest direct strike on Iran in decades. More than 200 Israeli fighter jets attacked over 100 targets in Iran. Those strikes hit Natanz, Iran’s biggest uranium enrichment plant, missile factories in Kermanshah, and bases in Tehran, Isfahan, and Tabriz.
Satellite pictures showed that Natanz’s underground centrifuge halls were badly damaged, but radiation levels stayed normal. This mission used hidden Mossad tactics. Drones and precision weapons arrived in Iran weeks earlier. They then shut down air defense systems during the strikes.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said that the attacks were aimed at stopping Iran, which he believes is putting Israel’s survival at risk. He also said Iran’s nuclear development has gone too far to turn back now.
Casualties and Leadership Decapitation
Iran lost some of its most important leaders in the attacks, including Hossein Salami of the Revolutionary Guards, Armed Forces Chief Mohammad Bagheri, and scientists Fereydoon Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi. At least 70 people lost their lives and 320 got injured, including people living near houses in the Shahrak-e Mahallati part of Tehran where army officials stayed, according to Iranian reports.
Videos verified by CNN showed homes and buildings crushed and fires sweeping entire areas, with people calling the shaking “apocalyptic.”
Iran’s Retaliation and Threats
In response to the pre-dawn airstrikes on June 13, 2025, Iran launched a massive counterattack today with more than 100 drones aimed at Israel. Iran’s leaders acted swiftly with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Foreign Minister condemning Israel’s move as a declaration of war and assuring a crushing and harsh strike back.
Even though the drone attacks were intense, Iran didn’t fire any ballistic missiles and stuck to using drones and working with its allies. The IRGC warned that more Israeli attacks could lead to them targeting American troops nearby.
Tehran announced it will set up a new nuclear plant and wants the UN Security Council to put pressure through global discussions. The situation is tense on both sides. Israel has brought in reservists and asked people to stay safe at home, expecting the conflict to drag on and possibly get worse.
🚨BREAKING: Israel says the attacks last night took years to plan. They smuggled drones into Iran and set up an entire undercover base outside Tehran. pic.twitter.com/3nJcXWLU96
— The Patriot Oasis™ (@ThePatriotOasis) June 13, 2025
Global Reactions to Iran–Israel Strikes
- United States
The U.S. stepped aside from the operation, saying Israel acted alone, and gave a warning to Iran not to target American soldiers. Calling the strikes “excellent,” President Trump said there would be more and told Iran to begin nuclear negotiations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made it clear the U.S. wasn’t involved, continued to support Israel, and warned Tehran not to threaten American interests.
- India
India’s Ministry of External Affairs says it is carefully monitoring the situation, with special focus on the reported strikes on nuclear sites. It pushed for all sides to handle the situation through peaceful conversations and by following global laws.
- United Kingdom
Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, and David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, called for calm and peaceful discussions. The UK’s Foreign Secretary Lammy said the strikes marked a very dangerous moment and added the government prefers peaceful talks over more fighting.
Other Key Nations
- EU, France, Germany: EU leaders said Israel can protect itself but should try to avoid making things worse. German Chancellor Merz said Israel had told Berlin ahead of time, and Germany promised to help stop things from getting worse through diplomacy.
- China, Russia, Pakistan: There was strong criticism. China said the situation could cause instability and told its people in both countries to be careful. Russia described the attacks as a “sharp escalation.” Pakistan said Israel’s response was “unjustified aggression” and called for global help.
- Middle East Neighbors: Jordan closed its airspace. Turkey called the strikes a “clear provocation,” and Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar spoke out against the attack, just like Iraq and Oman did.
What Pushed Israel to Go Ahead with Today’s Major Strike on Iran?
IAEA breach finding & nuclear threshold reached
The UN’s nuclear watchdog IAEA officially declared Iran out of compliance for the first time in 20 years on June 12, 2025. Iran has enriched over 400 kilograms of uranium up to 60% purity, which is nearly weapons-grade. Israel sees this as the moment things crossed the line toward a nuclear bomb.
Expiry of U.S.–Iran diplomacy window
A day before the strike happened, the U.S. and Iran gave up on nuclear talks. They’d set a two-month timeline in April 2025, and that time was up by June 12. With no progress in diplomacy, Israel saw the talks as a waste of time and believed it needed to move quickly.
Human Impact: Fear on Both Sides
At least 78 civilians were killed and over 329 injured, as reported by official Iranian news outlets. Fires and blasts hit neighborhoods in Tehran, and people said the streets were full of smoke and panic as families rushed to find safety. Air raid sirens rang across Israel all day, throwing daily life out of gear.
Flights didn’t take off, big gatherings were stopped, and everyone was told to stay indoors. Due to concerns about retaliation, the U.S. State Department asked American staff and their families in the region to stay put and not go out.
Border families on both sides say they’re scared. They’ve been gathering supplies and taking shelter below ground. Their daily lives are now overshadowed by the fear of things getting worse or reaching more places.
Historical Context: From Shadow War to Open Conflict
Since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, there’s been a hidden fight going on between Israel and Iran. Iran backed armed groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, and in return, Israel launched hidden attacks on Iran’s nuclear and military systems over many years.
Tensions started rising in 2015 when the JCPOA nuclear deal was signed, but the U.S. left it in 2018. Israel tolerated Iran’s growing nuclear work because it feared it might become weapon-related. The covert strikes carried on and in April 2024 Israel bombed Iran’s consulate annex in Damascus. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel This moved things from secret strikes to public military action.
Iranian ballistic missiles landed in Israel by October 2024. Israel answered with strikes of its own on Iran, pushing their shadow war to a new level. On June 13, 2025, Israel initiated a large air and covert campaign known as “Operation Rising Lion” striking Iran’s nuclear complexes, missile launchers, and senior military officials.
What’s Next?
Israel’s strike has broken five years of peace between the sides. Iran says it will respond strongly and might fire missiles, send in drones, or get help from its partner groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Because of the operation, the nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran in Oman are now uncertain, and hope for a peaceful fix is fading.
Right now, global markets are reacting, oil prices are climbing, and neighboring nations are calling for calm.