Israel Launches Major Military Strikes on Iran, Escalating Direct Conflict

In a significant escalation of hostilities, Israel launched a comprehensive military operation against Iran on June 13, 2025, targeting nuclear facilities and high-ranking military officials. Iran responded with a large-scale missile and drone assault on Israeli territory, marking a shift from proxy conflicts to direct confrontation between the two nations.

The Israeli operation, codenamed "Operation Rising Lion," involved over 200 fighter jets conducting more than 100 strikes across Iran. Key targets included the Natanz Nuclear Facility, the Esfahan Nuclear Technology Center, the Arak Nuclear Complex, and the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant. The attacks resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian officials, including Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces; and Gholamali Rashid, head of the IRGC’s Khatam al Anbia headquarters. Prominent nuclear scientists such as Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi were also killed.

In retaliation, Iran launched "Operation True Promise III," deploying over 150 ballistic missiles and more than 100 drones targeting various sites across Israel. The attacks resulted in casualties, including two deaths and numerous injuries. Israel's air defense systems intercepted many of the incoming threats, but some missiles and drones reached their targets, causing damage and casualties.

The international community expressed deep concern over the escalation. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the Israeli attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, emphasizing the critical timing amid ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States regarding Iran's nuclear program. Guterres urged both parties to exercise maximum restraint to prevent further destabilization of the region. The United States clarified that it was not involved in the Israeli operation, though it had been informed in advance. The U.S. also took precautionary measures, including evacuating some personnel from Iraq and authorizing the departure of family members of U.S. soldiers across the region.

The conflict had immediate economic repercussions. Oil prices surged by over 7%, later increasing to 11%, reaching their highest levels in a month. Global stock markets experienced volatility, with significant declines in airline stocks due to suspended flights and closed airspaces in the region. Civilians in both countries faced the immediate dangers of missile and drone attacks, leading to casualties and infrastructure damage. The situation also disrupted daily life, with airspace closures affecting travel and commerce.

This series of events marks a significant escalation in the longstanding conflict between Israel and Iran. While both nations have engaged in proxy conflicts and covert operations in the past, the direct nature of these attacks represents a new phase in their hostilities. Analysts suggest that Israel's decision to strike was influenced by a perceived window of opportunity, given Iran's eroded regional influence and the stalled nuclear negotiations. The operation carries potential risks of further retaliation, but Israel appears to have acted under the premise that Iran is at its weakest in recent memory and could be forced into a decisive strategy, possibly accelerating nuclear weapon development—a risk Israel chose not to accept passively.

The direct military engagements between Israel and Iran mark a significant escalation in their longstanding conflict, transitioning from proxy battles to open confrontation. The international community remains on high alert, urging both nations to exercise restraint to prevent a broader regional conflict. The long-term implications of these events on Middle East stability and global security are yet to unfold.