Israel-Iran War 2025: Nuclear Strikes and Missile Retaliation Explained

Israel-Iran War 2025:

JERUSALEM and TEHRAN — Before dawn on June 13, 2025, the skies over Iran erupted in fire as Israeli warplanes launched Operation Rising Lion, a sweeping assault on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities and military leadership. The strikes, which killed top commanders like Hossein Salami and damaged sites like Natanz, marked the boldest move yet in Israel’s decades-long campaign to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Hours later, Iran retaliated with Operation True Promise III, hurling over 180 missiles and drones at Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa, injuring dozens and shattering the uneasy stalemate between the two foes.

As air raid sirens wail and global leaders scramble to avert a wider war, the Middle East stands at a perilous crossroads. This article unravels the events of June 13–14, 2025, their deep-rooted causes, and the human and geopolitical toll, drawing on reports from Reuters, BBC, Al Jazeera, and eyewitness accounts.

Blasts over Jerusalem as Israel says Iran launch missiles – DW – 06/13/2025

A Powder Keg Ignites: The Road to June 13

The Israel-Iran rivalry, a shadow war of proxies, cyberattacks, and assassinations, has simmered since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. Israel, widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, views Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat, while Iran insists its enrichment is for civilian energy. The 2015 nuclear deal, which curbed Iran’s program in exchange for sanctions relief, collapsed in 2018 when then-President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S., prompting Iran to resume enrichment.

Tensions flared after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 and triggered a devastating war in Gaza, claiming over 55,000 Palestinian lives, according to Al Jazeera. Iran-backed Hezbollah’s rocket attacks from Lebanon and Houthi strikes from Yemen intensified Israel’s sense of encirclement. By June 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported Iran’s uranium enrichment at Natanz and Fordow had reached 60%—near weapons-grade levels—prompting a U.N. censure.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing domestic pressure over Gaza, seized the moment. “Iran’s nuclear program is a dagger at Israel’s throat,” he declared on June 11, signaling intent to act. Behind closed doors, Israel coordinated with the U.S., newly led by President Trump, though Washington urged restraint to preserve nuclear talks with Tehran.

Plumes of smoke rise from Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility after Israeli airstrikes, Friday, June 13, 2025.

Operation Rising Lion: Israel’s Audacious Assault

At 1:30 AM on June 13, over 200 Israeli F-35 and F-15 jets roared into Iranian airspace, supported by drones and covert Mossad operations. The strikes targeted:

• Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant: The above-ground infrastructure, including power grids and cooling systems, was obliterated, though underground centrifuges may have survived, per the IAEA.
• Fordow Nuclear Facility: Buried 300 feet underground, the site sustained damage to its entrance and power supply, but its core remains operational.
• Isfahan Military Airbase: A drone production hub was reduced to rubble.
• IRGC Missile Bases: Over 40 ballistic missile launchers in western Iran were destroyed.
• Tehran Compounds: Precision strikes killed IRGC commander Hossein Salami, Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, missile chief Amir Ali Hajizadeh, and six nuclear scientists, including former atomic chief Fereydoon Abbasi.

Mossad operatives, embedded in Iran for months, detonated pre-placed explosives to cripple air defenses, while cyberattacks blinded radar systems. “This was a surgical masterpiece,” said Israeli Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, though he warned the operation was “just beginning.”

In Tehran, 28-year-old shopkeeper Reza Hosseini awoke to explosions near Laleh Park, a site of past protests. “The ground shook like an earthquake,” he told BBC. “We thought the war had come to our doorstep.” Iran’s state media reported fires at Mehrabad International Airport and damage to residential areas, fueling public anger.

In this photo released by the Iranian Red Crescent Society, rescuers work at the scene of an explosion after an Israeli strike in Tehran, Iran, on 13 June 2025. Photograph: AP

Operation True Promise III: Iran’s Furious Response

By 6 PM on June 13, Iran unleashed Operation True Promise III, firing 180 ballistic missiles, 120 drones, and 25 cruise missiles at Israel. Israel’s multilayered defenses—Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow—intercepted most, with U.S. Navy destroyers in the Mediterranean assisting, according to Reuters. Yet, several missiles broke through:

• Tel Aviv: A residential building in Ramat Gan collapsed, trapping 45-year-old Miriam Cohen under rubble; she remains in critical condition. Fires raged in the port, disrupting trade.
• Jerusalem: Shrapnel damaged a school, injuring three children.
• Casualties: One Israeli, a 62-year-old man in Haifa, was killed, and 41 others were injured, including 12 in a second wave early Saturday.

In Ramat Gan, paramedic Avi Levy described a scene of chaos: “People were screaming, running to shelters. We pulled a mother and her son from the debris—it’s a miracle they survived.” Israel’s Magen David Adom reported treating 150 people for panic attacks and minor injuries.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a televised address, called the Israeli strikes a “declaration of war” and vowed a “crushing response.” Iran’s U.N. envoy claimed 78 deaths and 320 injuries, mostly civilians, though these figures remain unverified. Newly appointed IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour warned of opening “the gates of hell” if Israel continued.

Israeli firefighters inspect the aftermath of a missile strike in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, where several cars were destroyed. The strike was part of a large-scale Iranian missile barrage on June 13, launched in response to Israeli strikes on senior military figures and strategic sites in Iran. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa

The Human Toll: Lives Upended

In Tehran, families mourned amid the wreckage. At a hospital near Laleh Park, 35-year-old nurse Leyla Ahmadi treated burn victims. “We saw children, elderly, entire families hurt,” she told Al Jazeera. “This isn’t just about soldiers—it’s our homes, our lives.” Iran’s Red Crescent Society reported 1,200 displaced residents in the capital.

In Israel, bomb shelters became a lifeline. In Tel Aviv, 19-year-old student Noa Friedman spent hours underground with her family. “Every boom made my heart stop,” she said. “We don’t know when it’ll end.” Schools closed nationwide, and hospitals moved patients to fortified wards.

The strikes also claimed high-profile lives. Hossein Salami, a polarizing figure in Iran, was hailed as a martyr by hardliners but criticized for his role in the 2020 downing of a Ukrainian airliner. Nuclear scientist Fereydoon Abbasi, killed in Tehran, was a key figure in Iran’s enrichment program, his death a blow to its scientific community.

Iranians gather in Tehran to protest Israel’s strikes, waving flags and photos of fallen commanders, Friday, June 13, 2025. 

Global Reactions: A Diplomatic Frenzy

The international community raced to respond:

• United Nations: Secretary-General António Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire, tweeting, “The Middle East cannot afford another war.” The Security Council met urgently on June 14, but Russia and China vetoed a resolution condemning Iran’s retaliation.
• United States: President Trump, balancing support for Israel with nuclear talks in Oman, praised the strikes as “excellent” but urged Tehran to negotiate. U.S. forces in the region were placed on high alert, with two destroyers repositioned in the Gulf.
• Russia and China: Moscow warned of “catastrophic consequences,” while Beijing pushed for U.N.-led mediation. Both supplied Iran with air defense systems, complicating Israel’s calculus.
• European Union: The EU halted nuclear sanctions relief talks with Iran and dispatched envoys to de-escalate. France and Germany issued travel warnings for the region.
• Gulf States: Saudi Arabia, wary of Iran’s proxies, quietly backed Israel but urged restraint to protect oil routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

U.N. nuclear chief Rafael Grossi warned that strikes on nuclear sites risked “grave consequences” for safety, noting no radiation leaks but urging all parties to avoid further attacks.

The U.N. Security Council convenes an emergency session to address the Israel-Iran conflict, Friday, June 14, 2025. (AP/Evan Schneider)

Economic Shockwaves: A World Disrupted

The conflict sent global markets into turmoil:

• Oil Prices: Brent crude jumped to $103 per barrel, with fears of a Strait of Hormuz closure, which carries 21% of global oil. Analysts predict prices could hit $120 if fighting persists.
• Aviation and Shipping: Emirates and Qatar Airways rerouted flights, and shipping insurance costs soared 40%. Ports in Israel and Iran faced delays, disrupting trade.
• Markets: The Dow Jones fell 3%, and European indices dropped 2.5%, reflecting fears of a prolonged conflict.

In Iran, inflation, already at 40%, worsened as fuel shortages hit Tehran. In Israel, tourism, a key economic driver, collapsed as visitors canceled trips. Western intelligence agencies raised alerts for potential terror attacks by Iran-backed groups, from Europe to Southeast Asia.

Strait of Hormuz: Oil ‘choke point’ in focus as U.S.-Iran tensions …

The Path Forward: War or Diplomacy?

Analysts outline four scenarios:

1. Regional War: If Hezbollah, the Houthis, or Iraqi militias join, the conflict could spiral, drawing in U.S. and Gulf forces. Hezbollah, weakened by a 2024 ceasefire, has remained silent but could reengage.
2. Nuclear Escalation: Iran may accelerate enrichment to 90% or exit the Non-Proliferation Treaty, prompting harsher sanctions or further strikes. The New York Times reported Iran’s near-bomb-grade fuel was spared in the initial attack.
3. Regime Instability: The loss of IRGC leaders could spark power struggles in Tehran, though public outrage may rally support for hardliners. Protests in Iran, both anti-Israel and anti-regime, signal volatility.
4. Diplomatic Breakthrough: The crisis could revive nuclear talks, with Oman or Turkey mediating. Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, remains optimistic, but Iran’s rejection of a U.S. proposal on June 12 dims hopes.

Netanyahu, buoyed by domestic support, vowed to “finish the job,” while Khamenei framed the conflict as a fight for Iran’s sovereignty. On X, sentiment is polarized: some users praise Israel’s “decisive action,” while others condemn it as “reckless aggression” [].

A Region Transformed

The Israel-Iran clash of 2025 has upended the Middle East’s fragile balance. Israel’s strikes have wounded Iran’s nuclear program and military elite, but Tehran’s resilience and retaliatory power remain intact. As civilians in Tel Aviv and Tehran brace for more violence, the world grapples with a conflict that could reshape the region for decades.

The coming days will test whether diplomacy can prevail or if the drums of war grow louder. For now, the skies over the Middle East remain tense, and the stakes could not be higher.

Sources:

• Reuters: Israel strikes Iran’s nuclear sites
• BBC: Iran launches missiles at Israel
• Al Jazeera: Israel-Iran conflict escalates
• The New York Times: Israel’s attack on Iran
• The Guardian: Middle East on edge after strikes
• CNN: Israel’s Operation Rising Lion
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