Recent reports indicate a significant escalation of tensions between Iran and Israel, with Iran launching a substantial counterattack in response to what it views as Israeli strikes on its nuclear and military sites, and the killing of top military commanders.
Here’s a summary of the situation:
Israeli Strikes on Iran:
* Israel reportedly conducted widespread airstrikes across Iran, targeting military installations, nuclear facilities, and killing several high-ranking Iranian military figures, including the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, the Commander of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), and top nuclear scientists.
* These strikes were characterized by Israel as “Operation Rising Lion” and aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear program and responding to perceived Iranian aggression.
* Reports indicate that the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility and a uranium conversion plant in Isfahan were among the targets.
Iran’s Counterattack:
* Following the Israeli strikes, Iran launched a major retaliatory operation, referred to by some as “Severe Punishment.”
* This counterattack involved the launch of hundreds of missiles and drones towards Israel.
* Air raid sirens sounded across Israel, including in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and explosions were heard.
* Iranian state media reported multiple waves of attacks, with hundreds of missiles aimed at dozens of military targets and air bases in Israel.
* Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed “severe punishment” and stated that Israel would not be allowed to “escape safely from this great crime.”
Impact and Reactions:
* Initial reports from Israel indicated that many of the Iranian drones and missiles were intercepted by Israeli air defense systems. However, there were reports of explosions and some damage, with 15 people reportedly injured and a high-rise building in the greater Tel Aviv area directly hit.
* The United States has responded by shifting military resources in the Middle East, including warships capable of ballistic missile defense, in anticipation of a potential broader conflict.
* The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with calls for de-escalation and emergency meetings of the UN Security Council.
* Regional actors like Hezbollah and Houthi rebels have expressed solidarity with Iran and condemned the Israeli strikes.
This is a rapidly evolving situation, and further developments are expected.

In a major escalation, Iran was attacked on Friday, June 13, 2025, by Israel. This attack, dubbed “Operation Rising Lion” by Israel, targeted various sites across Iran.
How and by what means was Iran attacked?
* Airstrikes: The primary means of attack was a barrage of airstrikes. Reports indicate that over 200 Israeli Air Force fighter jets were involved, hitting more than 100 targets.
* Targeted Facilities: The airstrikes focused on:
* Nuclear sites: Crucially, Israel struck Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz, where black smoke was reportedly seen. Other nuclear sites were also targeted.
* Military sites: This included ballistic missile manufacturing sites, missile launchers, and air defense systems in western Iran.
* Leadership: The attacks reportedly killed top military officers, including the chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, and several nuclear scientists.
* Residential sites: Some reports also indicated that residential areas in Tehran were hit, causing injuries.
* Covert Operations: In addition to overt airstrikes, there were reports of more clandestine means:
* Explosive Drones: Israel’s Mossad spy agency reportedly positioned explosive drones inside Iran and activated them to target missile launchers.
* Smuggled Weapons: Precision weapons and strike systems on vehicles were allegedly smuggled into central Iran and activated during the attack to target Iranian air defenses.
Prior incidents and context:
It’s important to note that while this recent attack is a significant escalation, Israel has previously engaged in covert operations and cyberattacks against Iran, particularly targeting its nuclear program. The most well-known example is the Stuxnet cyberworm discovered in 2010, believed to be a joint US-Israeli effort, which severely damaged Iran’s nuclear centrifuges. Iran has also faced other cyberattacks on its infrastructure, with Iranian officials often blaming the US and Israel.

Recent reports from June 13, 2025, indicate that several Iranian scientists have been killed in Israeli attacks targeting nuclear and military facilities in Tehran and Natanz.
Among the scientists reported to have been killed in these recent strikes are:
* Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani: A nuclear physicist, former head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, and former member of parliament. He had previously survived an assassination attempt in 2010.
* Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi: A theoretical physicist and president of the Islamic Azad University of Iran.
* Abdolhamid Minouchehr
* Ahmadreza Zolfaghari
* Amirhossein Feqhi (also reported as Seyed Amir Hossein Feqhi or Amirhossein Faqhi)
* Motalleblizadeh (also reported as Motablizadeh)
It’s important to note that these recent deaths add to a history of assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists that Iran has blamed on Israel. Previous notable assassinations include:
* Mohsen Fakhrizadeh: A top nuclear scientist and head of Iran’s nuclear program, killed in 2020.
* Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan: An academic who worked at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, killed in 2012.
* Majid Shahriari: A nuclear engineer, killed in 2010.
* Masoud Ali-Mohammadi: A quantum field theorist and elementary particle physicist, killed in 2010.
* Darioush Rezaeinejad: A physicist, killed in 2011.
* Ardeshir Hosseinpour: A professor and authority on electromagnetism, who died in 2007 under mysterious circumstances.

Israel’s decision to target the Natanz nuclear facility is based on its critical role in Iran’s uranium enrichment program. Here’s why Natanz is such a significant target:
* Main Enrichment Site: Natanz is Iran’s primary and largest uranium enrichment facility. It houses thousands of centrifuges used to enrich uranium, which can be used for nuclear power or, if further enriched, for nuclear weapons.
* Heart of the Nuclear Program: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the strike aimed at “the heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program” and “nuclear weaponization program.” Any disruption at Natanz directly impacts Iran’s enrichment capabilities and serves as a powerful message.
* Production of Enriched Uranium: Natanz is where Iran has produced the vast majority of its nuclear fuel, including uranium enriched to various levels. While Iran claims its program is for peaceful purposes, the ability to enrich uranium to higher, weaponizable levels makes Natanz a key concern for Israel and the international community.
* Symbolic Importance: Beyond its technological capacity, Natanz holds symbolic status as a central pillar of Iran’s nuclear strategy. Hitting this fortified site sends a strong message and acts as a lever in the ongoing standoff over nuclear proliferation.
* Prior Targets: Natanz has been the target of multiple cyberattacks and suspected Israeli-led sabotage operations in the past, including the Stuxnet virus, indicating its persistent importance as a target for those seeking to slow Iran’s nuclear progress.
* Underground Protection: While parts of Natanz are underground and protected by reinforced concrete, making them resistant to conventional airstrikes, the recent attacks reportedly targeted and damaged underground sections, including centrifuge halls and supporting infrastructure. This suggests a significant effort to cripple the facility’s operations.
In essence, by targeting Natanz, Israel aims to severely impact Iran’s ability to enrich uranium, which is seen as a crucial step towards developing nuclear weapons, and to convey a strong deterrent message.

The Afghan Taliban have consistently condemned Israeli attacks and expressed strong solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Their response can be summarized as follows:
* Strong Condemnation of Israeli Actions: The Taliban have repeatedly denounced Israeli military actions, including those in Gaza, the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, and attacks on other regional countries like Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. They often characterize Israeli policies as “apartheid” and the invasion of Gaza as “genocide” and “great injustice and barbarity.”
* Calls for Ceasefire and International Action: They have urged the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and other Muslim countries to take a firm stance in support of Palestine and to implement a ceasefire. They also criticize what they perceive as the international community’s hypocrisy for not addressing human rights violations in Palestine with the same fervor as in Afghanistan.
* Expressions of Solidarity with Palestinians and Hamas: The Taliban have held rallies in Kabul in solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Senior Taliban officials, including Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi and Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, have met with Hamas leaders, such as Ismail Haniyeh, and conveyed condolences for casualties. They have openly expressed their “faith-based sympathy” for the Palestinians.
* Symbolic Gestures: In January 2025, the “Gaza Mosque” was inaugurated in Kabul to express solidarity with the Palestinian people.
* Potential for Mobilization (Claimed by some sources): While the Taliban have generally maintained a position of not interfering in other countries’ internal affairs, some Israeli media outlets have claimed that the Taliban have promised Iran to send fighters to Lebanon in the event of a severe war between Israel and Hezbollah. Iran’s ambassador in Kabul has also stated that Afghanistan is part of the “axis of resistance” and that “martyrdom” forces from Afghanistan would go to Gaza if needed. However, the Taliban’s intelligence agency-affiliated media has at times challenged Iran’s regional policy.
* Criticism of Western Powers: The Taliban have blamed Israel for destabilizing the region and criticized the US for vetoing UN Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire, accusing Washington of being complicit in atrocities.
Overall, the Afghan Taliban’s response has been one of vocal condemnation of Israel and unwavering support for the Palestinian people, aligning with a broader Islamic solidarity.