As of Sunday, June 15, 2025, the tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated significantly, marking the third day of overt conflict. Here's a summary of what we know: Initiation of Conflict: * Friday, June 13, 2025: Israel launched major airstrikes on Iran, codenamed "Operation Rising Lion." Theاقرأ المزيد
As of Sunday, June 15, 2025, the tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated significantly, marking the third day of overt conflict. Here’s a summary of what we know:
Initiation of Conflict:
* Friday, June 13, 2025: Israel launched major airstrikes on Iran, codenamed “Operation Rising Lion.” These attacks targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, military installations, and reportedly killed several top Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists, including IRGC commander Hossein Salami and Major General Mohammad Bagheri. Explosions were reported in Tehran and near nuclear sites like Natanz and Esfahan. Israel stated its aim was to “degrade, destroy, and remove the threat” of Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
* Friday, June 13, 2025 (Evening): Iran quickly retaliated with a large-scale attack on Israel, launching over 150 ballistic missiles and more than 100 drones, codenamed “Operation True Promise III.”
Escalation and Continued Strikes:
* Saturday, June 14, 2025: Both sides continued their strikes. Israel expanded its targets to include Iran’s energy industry, while Iranian missile and drone attacks on Israel continued, reportedly hitting cities like Haifa and Tel Aviv.
* Sunday, June 15, 2025: The exchange of strikes has continued for a third day. Israel has unleashed further airstrikes across Iran, threatening greater force. Some Iranian missiles have reportedly evaded Israeli air defenses and struck buildings in central Israel. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have targeted Israel’s fuel infrastructure in response to Israeli strikes on its oil facilities.
Casualties and Damages:
* Iran: Iranian media has reported significant casualties, with unofficial tolls on Saturday stating 78 people killed and 329 injured in Tehran alone. Al Jazeera reports at least 80 people killed and 800 wounded across Iran over the past two days, including 20 children and nine nuclear scientists. Israeli strikes have caused fires at oil storage facilities in Tehran and other areas.
* Israel: Iran’s retaliatory strikes have also caused casualties. Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service reported at least 10 people killed overnight and into Sunday, bringing Israel’s total death toll to 13. Reports indicate strikes hitting residential areas, with one attack in Bat Yam (a Tel Aviv suburb) killing at least six people, including two children, and wounding 180.
International Reaction:
* The United Nations Security Council held a meeting on Friday, June 13, to discuss the rising tensions.
* Calls for de-escalation are mounting from world leaders.
* The conflict has closed Israel’s main international airport and airspace for a third day.
Context and Broader Implications:
* This direct military confrontation marks a significant escalation in the long-standing “shadow war” between Israel and Iran, which previously involved proxy conflicts, cyberattacks, and targeted assassinations.
* The immediate catalyst was Israel’s initial strikes, which it justified by claiming Iran was close to developing a nuclear weapon, a day after the UN nuclear watchdog declared Iran wasn’t complying with nonproliferation agreements. Iran responded by stating it would create a new uranium enrichment facility.
* Experts are concerned about the potential for this conflict to escalate into a wider regional war, with implications for global energy markets.
* There are reports of discussions regarding regime change as a potential Israeli goal.
It's difficult to provide an exact figure for how many millions of dollars Israel is currently spending to stop Iranian missile attacks, as these costs are ongoing and fluctuate based on the intensity of attacks and defensive operations. However, here's what we know about the costs involved: * Highاقرأ المزيد
It’s difficult to provide an exact figure for how many millions of dollars Israel is currently spending to stop Iranian missile attacks, as these costs are ongoing and fluctuate based on the intensity of attacks and defensive operations. However, here’s what we know about the costs involved:
قراءة أقل* High Cost of Interceptors: Israel’s multi-layered air defense system (Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow) relies on expensive interceptor missiles.
* Iron Dome: Each interceptor missile costs approximately $50,000.
* David’s Sling and Arrow: These systems, designed for medium and long-range missiles, have interceptors that can cost over $2 million each, with some estimates for Arrow interceptors going up to $3.5 million.
* Significant Costs for Barrages: When Iran launches large barrages of missiles and drones, the defensive costs can be substantial. For example, some reports indicate that Israel spent over $1 billion in a single night to defend against a major Iranian attack in April 2024. Other estimates for specific Iranian attacks put Israel’s defense costs in the range of $360 million to $630 million.
* Ongoing Development and Maintenance: Beyond intercepting attacks, Israel also spends billions of dollars annually on developing, maintaining, and upgrading its sophisticated air defense systems. The US has also invested significantly, providing billions in funding for these projects.
* Economic Disparity: A key aspect of this “economic warfare” is that the interceptor missiles used by Israel are significantly more expensive than the drones and missiles often launched by Iran or its proxies. This creates a financial strain on Israel, as they must expend high-cost munitions to counter relatively cheaper threats.
While a precise daily or weekly cost is not publicly available, it’s clear that defending against Iranian missile attacks requires a multi-million, and often multi-billion, dollar investment from Israel, with substantial support from the United States.