Israel Strikes Iran: Operation Rising Lion

Areas targeted in Iran by Israel on June 12, 2025

Israel Strikes
Operation Narnia
Iran Strikes Back
Cyberattacks
Covert Ops and Psychological Warfare
Trading Blows
U.S. Involvement and Escalation
Ceasefire and Aftermath
Assessing the Results
Casualties and Damage
Assassination Plot Revealed

Israel Strikes

Israel launched Operation Rising Lion overnight on June 12, 2025, striking dozens of Iranian targets in an unprecedented military operation aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear program and the army command. The Israeli Air Force, after disabling Iranian and Iraqi air defenses, conducted waves of airstrikes beginning around 2:59 a.m. Israeli time. Initial strikes targeted Iran’s General Staff and intelligence headquarters in Tehran, followed by key nuclear and missile facilities, including Natanz (Iran’s central enrichment facility), the Arak heavy water reactor, the Parchin military facility, Khondab reactor, and additional sites in Kermanshah, Ilam, Qom, Hamadan, Khorramabad, Piranshahr, Tabriz, and Qasr-e Shirin.

Israel confirmed it targeted not only infrastructure but also Iranian military leadership and nuclear scientists. Confirmed killed were Gen. Hossein Salami, commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s armed forces; Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, deputy chief of staff; Amir Ali Hajizadeh, IRGC Air Force commander; Ali Shamkhani, former head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council; and six nuclear scientists, including Fereydoun Abbasi, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, and Abdolhamid Minoujhar. Israeli sources say Mossad teams supported precision strikes on air defense systems and surface-to-surface missile batteries intended for Iranian retaliation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the operation would continue “as many days as it takes” to remove what Israel sees as an existential threat. Israeli intelligence had assessed that Iran had produced enough fissile material for 15 nuclear bombs and was advancing a secret weaponization program. Defense Minister Israel Katz declared a state of emergency; Israeli airspace was closed, and public gatherings were suspended.

Operation Narnia

On June 13, Israel launched coordinated strikes in Iran that killed nine top nuclear scientists in near-simultaneous attacks, aiming to cripple Iran’s nuclear program by eliminating key personnel before they could go into hiding. These assassinations were part of a broader covert operation dubbed “Operation Narnia.” By the time a U.S.- and Qatari-brokered ceasefire took effect 11 days later, at least 11 scientists had been killed, including Sayyed Seddighi Saber, a recently sanctioned figure central to Iran’s weapons-related work.

The scientists targeted were deeply involved in designing nuclear warhead components such as neutron initiators, detonation systems, and high explosives. Experts agree the loss of so much hands-on expertise significantly disrupts Iran’s ability to rapidly build a bomb, especially in the short term.

Among the most prominent victims were Fereydoon Abbasi-Devani, a founder of Iran’s nuclear weapons program who survived a 2010 assassination attempt, and Mohammad Mehdi Teranchi, who specialized in explosive systems. Iran has acknowledged the loss and held mass funerals, claiming that family members of the scientists were also killed—though Israel has not commented on civilian casualties.

Despite these setbacks, Iran retains a robust infrastructure to preserve nuclear expertise. Universities like Shahid Beheshti and Sharif University continue to train new scientists. Iran has also maintained a nuclear archive and dispersed pre-2003 materials and knowledge to evade oversight.

While the operation dealt a major blow to Iran’s nuclear “brain trust,” analysts caution that Tehran’s decentralized and academic-driven approach means its program remains resilient—though perhaps slowed in the near term.

Iran Strikes Back

Iran began retaliating within hours, launching over 100 drones toward Israel in two waves. The IDF reported intercepting the drones outside Israeli borders. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned of “severe punishment,” and the Iranian Foreign Ministry called the attack a “declaration of war.” Iranian media reported civilian casualties in Tehran, including 78 killed and 329 injured, though these figures remain unverified.

The United States emphasized that it was not involved in the Israeli strikes. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Israel had taken unilateral action and warned Iran not to target U.S. forces. U.S. President Donald Trump posted that Iran had been given “chance after chance” to reach a nuclear deal and warned of further consequences.

Israel’s Mossad carried out a months-long covert operation inside Iran that enabled the unprecedented operation. Agents smuggled missiles and drones into the country and tricked top Iranian air force commanders into assembling so they could be killed. The multi-phase operation targeted nuclear facilities, missile launchers, and air defenses, with roughly 200 Israeli aircraft striking about 100 sites. The Mossad smuggled explosive-laden drone parts and munitions into Iran over several months to weaken Iranian air defenses and missile capabilities ahead of Israel’s broader air campaign. Small teams, trained abroad and operating covertly within Iran, used commercial channels to receive the equipment and struck key missile launchers and air-defense systems as Israel’s F-35 jets entered Iranian airspace. The operation significantly reduced Iran’s retaliatory capacity and demonstrated Israel’s deep intelligence penetration and reliance on low-cost, off-the-shelf drone technology. Officials suggest the campaign instilled fear among the Iranian leadership and disrupted military logistics at critical moments.

Cyberattacks

While Israel and the U.S. were bombing Iran’s nuclear sites in June 2025, a parallel front opened in cyberspace targeting Iran’s financial infrastructure. Israeli officials and the hacking group Predatory Sparrow disrupted key institutions facilitating Iran’s sanctions evasion.

Bank Sepah, a state-owned bank affiliated with the IRGC, was crippled. Its ATMs and online systems went offline. Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Nobitex, which was used to bypass sanctions, was hacked, $100 million was extracted and rendered unusable by sending it to inaccessible wallets with anti-IRGC messages.

The attacks aimed to undermine Iran’s military financing and disrupt tools used by the IRGC and Iranian citizens to move money internationally. Nobitex, with 11 million users and over $22 billion in processed transactions, was a key platform for converting rials into tether (a dollar-pegged cryptocurrency) to circumvent sanctions.

In response, Iran shut down parts of its internet, blocked foreign websites, and warned citizens about surveillance risks. Officials and devices were banned from using foreign technology. Nobitex’s CEO blamed the hack on Israel, citing political motives.

Israeli authorities denied direct links but emphasized their broader efforts to disable Iran’s economic enablers. Meanwhile, Iranian cyber groups attempted retaliatory attacks on Israeli government websites with limited success.

Experts expect cyber warfare to continue despite the declared cease-fire, with Israel targeting nodes of the regime’s power and financing, particularly those linked to the IRGC.

Covert Ops and Psychological Warfare

In preparation for Operation Rising Lion, Israeli intelligence spent months meticulously developing a comprehensive operational plan to neutralize Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities. Starting in late 2024, the IDF shifted from targeting a single Iranian center of gravity to identifying and preparing to strike multiple critical nodes simultaneously, including nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missiles, drone facilities, command leadership, communications, air defenses, industrial production, and economic assets. This complex effort, involving around 120 intelligence personnel working in specialized teams, culminated in April 2025, when actionable plans were finalized, taking into account Iran’s rapid recovery of missile production and ongoing nuclear advancements. The resulting intelligence work allowed the Israeli Air Force to gain aerial supremacy over Tehran in the early phase of the conflict.

As part of the unilateral move, Israel launched “Operation Narnia,” killing nine of Iran’s top ten nuclear scientists simultaneously using a special, undisclosed weapon, with the tenth scientist killed shortly after. The strikes, conducted overnight, also targeted Iran’s ballistic missile program, the Natanz nuclear site, and senior military leaders. Israeli intelligence, which had tracked these scientists for years and marked them for assassination months earlier, deemed this component of the operation crucial, as the expertise lost would be far harder for Iran to replace than military hardware or leadership.

Following Israel’s June 13 strikes that killed top Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists, Israeli intelligence launched a covert psychological campaign to intimidate senior Iranian officials, aiming to destabilize Tehran’s leadership. Israeli operatives, fluent in Persian, directly called over 20 high-ranking Iranian figures, warning them to abandon the regime or face assassination. This operation was part of Israel’s broader campaign, “Rising Lion,” which combined military strikes on nuclear sites with psychological operations to paralyze Iran’s leadership succession. 

Flight disruptions were reported across the region. Israel’s military was bracing for further Iranian retaliation, and Netanyahu signaled that additional phases of the operation would follow.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council convened an emergency meeting Friday morning, during which Supreme Leader Khamenei expressed a desire for revenge but warned against hasty action amid internal divisions over the risks of a full-scale war with Israel and potential U.S. involvement. Officials warned that if Israel were to retaliate by targeting critical infrastructure, such as water or energy plants, it could trigger domestic protests or riots. Initially, Iran had planned to fire up to 1,000 ballistic missiles at Israel to overwhelm its defenses and cause massive damage. Still, Israeli strikes on key missile bases severely hampered Iran’s ability to mobilize and launch those weapons.

Trading Blows

On June 14, 2025, Israel intensified its military offensive against Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure, delivering significant early blows by eliminating top military commanders and atomic scientists and heavily damaging facilities in Natanz and Isfahan. In retaliation, Iran fired over 200 ballistic missiles at Israel between Friday and Sunday, killing 11 civilians—including four women in Tamra and four people in Bat Yam, and injuring more than 200 others. Several buildings were destroyed, and dozens remain missing. Israel has now secured air superiority over western Iran and Tehran, but failed to destroy the heavily fortified Fordow nuclear site.

The following day, Iran launched its first daylight missile attack on Israel since Friday’s Israeli strikes, with explosions rocking Tel Aviv and killing at least 10 people, including children. Later that evening, a second wave of missiles struck a residential street in Haifa, injuring nine people. At the same time, two more were wounded in a separate missile impact in southern Israel, according to emergency services. Israel has established air supremacy over Iran, enabling the IDF to strike more than 170 targets and 720 military assets, including nuclear and military infrastructure across the country. In Tehran, Israeli strikes reportedly killed IRGC intelligence chief Mohammad Kazem and his deputy, along with at least 14 Iranian nuclear scientists, some via suspected car bombings. The Israeli Air Force also struck missile launchers, fuel reserves, and even air bases in distant Mashad, approximately 2,300km away. These operations have been facilitated by the prior dismantling of regional air defenses in Syria and Lebanon, allowing closer, cheaper strikes using less sophisticated munitions. Meanwhile, Iran has launched over 370 ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones at Israeli cities, killing 24 people and injuring hundreds more, including eight fatalities overnight. As of Monday morning, 30 missile impact sites have been recorded. While the U.S. is not directly involved in the offensive, its intelligence and logistical support, particularly via CENTCOM, has been pivotal. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir declared that Israel is reshaping its strategic reality and neutralizing an existential threat by degrading Iran’s nuclear capability and infrastructure.

On the same day, Israel’s Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Eli Cohen, ordered a temporary halt to natural gas flows from the offshore Karish and Leviathan fields due to escalating security concerns. This decision affected companies like NewMed Energy, Ratio Energies, and Energean, which have stakes in the fields. Simultaneously, Bazan Group reported localized damage to a transmission pipeline at its Haifa Bay refinery complex following an Iranian missile strike. While there were no injuries, some downstream refining units were shut down. Bazan is assessing the operational and financial impacts of the damage, which may involve insurance and property tax claims.

Alerts in Israel before Iran’s rocket attack on June 20, 2025

Overnight between June 16 and 17, Iran launched several small-scale missile barrages, including one strike of 20 missiles on central Israel, five of which landed in the Tel Aviv area, causing minor injuries to five people. The IDF, in response, eliminated Iran’s new Chief of Staff, Ali Shadmani, Khamenei’s top military adviser, in a precision strike in central Tehran, marking the second such elimination in five days. Israel’s ongoing aerial campaign has significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear sites in Natanz and Isfahan, destroyed about a third of Iran’s missile launchers (around 120), and killed senior military figures and nuclear scientists. The IAF currently enjoys operational freedom in Iranian airspace. Despite losses, Iran still possesses missile-launching capabilities, which Israel is expected to continue targeting.

The following day, the Israeli Air Force carried out a major strike involving over 50 fighter jets targeting key sites in Tehran, including a centrifuge production facility and factories manufacturing surface-to-surface and anti-aircraft missiles, while also attacking five Iranian combat helicopters. Simultaneously, Iran launched a series of missile and drone barrages against Israel, firing approximately 25 missiles and over 10 drones overnight, though most were intercepted without casualties. Throughout the conflict, Iran has fired around 400 ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel, resulting in 24 fatalities and over 800 injuries. Despite Iranian claims of launching hypersonic missiles, there was no evidence of a successful impact on Israeli territory. Israel’s strikes have forced Iranian missile operations to retreat further into central Iran while continuing to target launchers and munitions facilities.

On June 19, 2025, Iranian ballistic missiles struck Soroka Hospital in Beersheba and multiple sites in central Israel, injuring 89 people, including three seriously. The strike severely damaged Soroka’s surgical building but caused minimal injuries as patients had been relocated in advance. Additional missiles hit a school in Holon and the Ramat Gan Diamond Exchange area, causing further injuries and property damage. Israel responded by striking Iran’s inactive nuclear reactor in Arak, targeting plutonium production components, and attacking active nuclear sites in Natanz, along with extensive airstrikes on military and government targets across Tehran and other locations. Israeli leaders condemned Iran for targeting civilians, labeling it a war crime, while Iranian media claimed military targets were the intended objective. A poll showed strong Israeli public support for the ongoing military campaign against Iran.

On the same day, Israel continued its intensive air campaign against Iranian military and nuclear targets, striking the Arak reactor, Natanz facility, missile launchers, and government symbols while intercepting hundreds of drones and facing sustained ballistic missile attacks from Iran, which caused casualties and significant damage in Beersheba, Tel Aviv, and Ramat Gan. As the conflict escalates, the U.S. has supplied Israel with military equipment but has yet to decide on direct involvement. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts led by the UK, France, Germany, and the European Union are underway to seek a resolution. Iran warns of severe retaliation should the U.S. join the Israeli offensive, while both sides remain locked in military and diplomatic maneuvers, with critical targets like Fordow still intact.

Iran’s repeated use of nighttime missile launches is a deliberate military strategy driven by technical, tactical, and psychological factors. Night attacks offer concealment from surveillance, reduce the risk of detection during vulnerable fueling operations, especially for liquid-fueled missiles, and enhance the element of surprise. While solid-fueled missiles allow for quicker, more mobile launches, both types require onboard oxidizers due to the lack of atmospheric oxygen at high altitudes. Altogether, Iran’s timing reflects a broader doctrine aimed at maximizing survivability and psychological impact, even when missile effectiveness is limited.

Iran has continued launching ballistic missiles at Israel despite sustained Israeli airstrikes by relying on a long-developed missile doctrine emphasizing decentralization, redundancy, and concealment. Iran’s strategy includes a vast arsenal of around 2,000 missiles, diverse launch platforms—fixed, mobile, and underground—and fortified survivability measures like hardened facilities and layered air defenses. Although Israeli strikes have disrupted command structures and degraded Iran’s infrastructure, the Islamic Republic’s decentralized logistics and production capabilities have helped maintain its offensive capacity. However, Israeli officials believe continued air operations and the exhaustion of Iran’s launch systems may gradually neutralize the threat.

As Israel continued its conflict with Iran, the U.S. reinforced Israeli air defenses to counter Iran’s ongoing missile barrages, which are rapidly depleting Israel’s supply of advanced interceptors. U.S. Navy destroyers equipped with SM-2, SM-3, and SM-6 interceptors have been deployed to the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea, while additional ground-based THAAD systems have been resupplied. The Arrow 3 system, Israel’s most sophisticated interceptor, capable of striking missiles outside the atmosphere, faces possible shortages if Iranian attacks persist. Prime Minister Netanyahu acknowledged the strain but emphasized Israel’s success in neutralizing half of Iran’s launchers. The prolonged engagement, however, presents escalating costs, potential rationing of interceptors, and growing challenges for both Israeli and U.S. strategic stockpiles, especially amid concerns over broader conflicts.

U.S. Involvement and Escalation

On June 21, 2025, America initiated Operation Midnight Hammer, intended to destroy three nuclear facilities in Iran. At the request of President Trump, Israel actively assisted the U.S. in its airstrikes by neutralizing Iranian air defense systems in the 48 hours leading up to the operation. Trump directly asked Prime Minister Netanyahu to clear a path for U.S. B-2 bombers targeting Fordow, with Israel conducting strikes on Iranian defenses in southern Iran accordingly. Following the successful bombing of Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan with 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs, Trump told Netanyahu he seeks a diplomatic agreement with Iran and prefers to avoid further U.S. strikes unless provoked. However, Israel may continue its military operations independently.

Shortly after the U.S. conducted significant airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Iran retaliated by launching multiple waves of ballistic missiles into Israel, firing approximately 30 missiles that struck civilian areas, including Tel Aviv, Haifa, Nes Tziona, and Beer Yaakov, injuring at least 23 people. Some missiles penetrated Israeli air defenses, causing significant property damage, while others were intercepted alongside hundreds of drones. The Israeli Air Force continued its extensive bombing campaign across Iran, striking six airfields, damaging runways, bunkers, aircraft, and refueling planes, and targeting missile and drone sites in Isfahan, Bushehr, Ahvaz, and for the first time, Yazd - home to the “Imam Hussein” Strategic Missile Command, from which around 60 Khorramshahr missiles had been launched at Israel. IAF Commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar emphasized the successful destruction of missiles and storage tunnels, significantly degrading Iran’s firepower. Following U.S. strikes, Iran launched multiple ballistic missile barrages at Israel, wounding 23. Over the weekend, Israel also eliminated two senior IRGC officials, Benham Shariyari and Saeed Izadi, the latter considered a key figure in Iranian coordination with Hamas, with IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir calling Izadi’s killing a pivotal moment in the war.

Ceasefire and aftermath

On June 23, 2025, President Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire. Under the deal, Iran began its ceasefire immediately, while Israel was granted 12 additional hours to complete its operations. He posted:

Both governments confirmed the agreement. However, just as the truce took effect, Iran launched a final barrage of about 15 missiles, most of which were intercepted, though one struck a residential building in Beer Sheva, killing four civilians. In the final hours of its campaign, Israel intensified its strikes on Iranian military and IRGC infrastructure, targeting missile production facilities, command centers, air-defense systems, and regime strongholds in Tehran, including Evin Prison and the symbolic Palestine Square clock. Israel also assassinated senior Iranian nuclear scientist Mohammad Reza Sabar and struck the Fordow nuclear site again to block the removal of sensitive material.

After Israel intercepted several Iranian missiles following the announcement of the ceasefire, Defense Minister Katz ordered strikes on regime targets in Tehran. Trump demanded that Israel halt further attacks. Before ending its assault, Israel launched a final strike on a radar system near Tehran.

The ceasefire subsequently took effect; nevertheless, the Mossad, through its Farsi-speaking spokesperson, delivered a direct message to the people of Iran, warning them about the danger of being near IRGC members and facilities.  The message also stressed that Israel’s war was solely against the oppressive regime and not against innocent civilians. The agency assured that it will make every effort to prevent harm to ordinary citizens.

Assessing the Results

The joint U.S. and Israeli strikes delivered a devastating blow to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, fundamentally degrading its capabilities. Key facilities such as Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan sustained extensive damage. Centrifuges were destroyed, uranium stockpiles became physically inaccessible, and much of Iran’s scientific expertise had already been eliminated in earlier operations. Although enriched uranium remains underground, Iran’s ability to retrieve or process it was severely compromised.

Several senior figures within the Iranian regime’s military and security leadership were eliminated, as were nuclear scientists. Targeted operations removed key decision-makers who oversaw nuclear development and missile coordination, disrupting Iran’s command structure and further delaying any military recovery.

Iran’s surface-to-surface missile production capabilities were also damaged. Israeli forces targeted all stages of the missile manufacturing chain, destroying explosives assembly sites, launch infrastructure, and warehouses, significantly reducing Iran’s ability to produce and launch missiles.

Predictably, Iran spun its humiliation as a victory. “The attacks on our nuclear facilities did not disrupt their operations....I congratulate the Iranian people on their victory over the fake Zionist entity. Despite all the media noise, the Zionist entity has almost collapsed under the attacks of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Khamenei declared. “The US intervened in the war because it felt that if it did not do so, the Zionist entity would be completely wiped out. This is another victory for Iran that slapped the arrogant U.S. in the face. The American intervention achieved nothing.”

Still, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, admitted the country’s nuclear facilities had sustained “significant and serious damages.”

The director general of the IAEA cautioned that Iran still had some remnants of its nuclear program. “They can have, you know, in a matter of months, I would say, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium, or less than that. But as I said, frankly speaking, one cannot claim that everything has disappeared and there is nothing there,” he said in a CBS interview. “It is clear that there has been severe damage, but it’s not total damage,” Rafael Grossi added. “Iran has the capacities there; industrial and technological capacities. So if they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again.”

The operation restored U.S. deterrence, demonstrating the reach and power of the American military, but it did not eliminate the regime or its ability to destabilize the region. Eliminating its nuclear capability ensures, at least in the short run, that Iran will not have a bomb to threaten its neighbors or to use to deter Israel. However, its proxies have been weakened but not destroyed. Hamas continues to fight in Gaza, Iran-backed groups still exist in the West Bank, the Iraqi militias were untouched by the campaign in Iran, and the Houthis are firing missiles at Israel almost daily. More importantly, Iran still has ballistic missiles, as it demonstrated before the ceasefire by hitting a building in Beersheba that killed four Israelis. It also sponsors terror worldwide, including assassination plots against President Trump and former members of his administration.

The ceasefire raised other concerns. While the strikes achieved significant tactical success, critics argued that without binding Iranian commitments, the regime could eventually attempt to rebuild its program. Some insisted that sanctions be maintained and strengthened, and that inspectors be given access to assess the impact of the operation. 

U.S. and Israeli officials reportedly delivered a clear ultimatum to the Iranian regime: surrender all enriched uranium or face the resumption of full-scale military operations. This threat coincides with comments made by President Trump, who warned that the active phase of the conflict with Iran may resume “perhaps soon.” Katz also warned that any Iranian attempt to rebuild its military infrastructure would be met with decisive force and that maintaining air superiority over Iran is non-negotiable.

For now, Iran’s nuclear ambitions have suffered a significant setback. Yet whether this victory will produce lasting security depends on continued vigilance and the willingness to enforce the red lines established during this campaign.

The destruction of Iran’s missile capability was less successful, in part because of the ceasefire forced on Israel by Trump. According to Fox News, on the eve of the war with Israel, Iran possessed about 3,000 ballistic missiles and 500-600 launchers. After the war, the number of ballistic missiles in its possession dropped to 1,000-1,500, and the number of launchers to 150-200.

Casualties and Damage

During “Operation Rising Lion,” Iran launched some 550 rockets and over 1,000 UAVs toward Israeli territory. The United States, France, Great Britain, and Jordan helped shoot down projectiles along with Israel’s anti-missile defenses. While most were intercepted, more than 65 missiles hit Israel. The attacks left 28 people dead and 3,343 needing medical treatment, including 23 in serious condition, 111 moderately wounded, and over 3,043 with light injuries. Among the wounded, 346 were children. At least three cluster munitions hit seven cities across 18 sites. Some 15,000 Israelis were left homeless. Most of these attacks had no military value and were intended to spread terror. 

Satellite radar data shared with The Telegraph revealed that Iranian missiles directly hit at least five Israeli military facilities—information not publicly acknowledged due to Israeli military censorship. These targets included a major air base, an intelligence center, and a logistics site, in addition to 36 known strikes on civilian infrastructure.

The Israel Tax Authority received 41,651 damage claims, 32,975 for buildings, 4,119 for vehicles, and 4,456 for other types of property. Additionally, more than 15,000 civilians were evacuated from their homes under orders from the Home Front Command, including 1,402 senior citizens and 522 children and adults with disabilities.

Between June 13 and 24, 2025, Iran launched six ballistic missiles that struck five Israeli military bases. These strikes, not publicly disclosed within Israel due to military censorship, caused less damage than Iran’s October 2024 missile barrage. No IDF casualties were reported, and Israeli air force and intelligence operations remained unaffected, thanks to prior dispersal and underground relocation of assets. 

For its part, Israel killed 11 senior nuclear scientists, conducted 1,500 sorties, destroyed 200 missile launchers, approximately 50% of the total, struck 35 missile production sites, and destroyed 15 enemy aircraft. The deepest strike was directed at Mashhad Airport, approximately 1,500 miles (2,400 km) from Israel. This and other strikes required approximately 600 aerial refuelings, which the United States assisted.

Assassination Plot Revealed

Later, it was learned that Iran came “very close” to assassinating Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz before the war. Roi Mizrahi was arrested by Israeli authorities for allegedly planting a powerful bomb near  Katz’s home, in coordination with accomplice Almog Atias, under suspected Iranian direction. The two reportedly made contact with Iranian-linked operatives via a swingers’ Telegram group. Initially thought to be involved in installing surveillance cameras, interrogation, and recovered phone videos revealed they transported the explosive, which detonated as Katz passed—miraculously causing no harm. Mizrahi admitted he suspected it was a bomb but was motivated by curiosity and promised payment. Both suspects face charges of aiding the enemy during wartime and could face life sentences.

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Figures via Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.