Recent Israeli Strikes and Immediate Responses

Israel has, over the past 72 hours, carried out airstrikes against Iran, marking the largest Israeli offensive against the Islamic Republic to date. In the early hours of June 13, waves of Israeli aircraft and drones struck multiple targets deep inside Iran – from nuclear enrichment facilities at Natanz and Isfahan to ballistic missile production sites and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) bases[1].

The operation, code-named “Rising Lion,” was described by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a preemptive action “to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival,” and he vowed it would continue “for as many days as it takes to remove this threat”[2].

Israel’s military confirmed it targeted dozens of key sites, including a multi-story underground enrichment hall at Natanz and locations tied to Iran’s drone and missile programs. In a pointed message to Tehran’s leadership, Israeli strikes also targeted individuals – killing several top Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists in their homes. Among those confirmed dead were Major General Mohammad Bagheri (Iran’s armed forces chief of staff) and IRGC commander Hossein Salami, along with at least six senior nuclear experts.

Iranian state media reported civilian casualties as well, saying nearly 80 civilians were killed and over 300 wounded in the first night’s strikes, as some missiles hit residential areas while targeting scientists in their beds[3]. Israel has denied reports that any of its jets were shot down during the attacks.

Iran’s immediate response has been fierce but measured in scope. By Friday night (June 13), Iran’s armed forces had launched retaliatory salvos of ballistic missiles and drones toward Israel in what the IRGC called “severe punishment” for the strikes[4]. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported “dozens of additional missiles” inbound and warned that “all of Israel” was under threat.

Israel activated its air defences nationwide; videos from Tel Aviv have shown interceptor missiles launching into the sky and explosions as Iran’s missiles were largely intercepted or fell short[5]. Iran also allegedly coordinated with regional proxies – Israel have claimed an Iran-aligned Houthi militia in Yemen fired a long-range missile that landed in the West Bank, injuring several bystanders[6].

Tehran officially denied launching 100 armed drones as Israel claimed, but IRGC commanders vowed that the “gates of hell will open” for the “child-killing Zionist regime” in due time. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei condemned Israel’s “satanic, bloodstained hands” in carrying out a “crime” on Iranian soil, promising that Iran’s “powerful arm” will exact “severe punishment” in retaliation[7].

The international response to this sudden escalation has been swift. The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session at Iran’s request, where UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern and “condemns any military escalation in the Middle East.” Guterres singled out the danger of attacks on nuclear facilities, warning that strikes on such sites carry “grave consequences for the people of Iran, the region, and beyond”.

Western governments – many caught off guard by Israel’s unilateral action – have largely urged restraint[8]. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized that Israel acted alone and said it is “crucial for many allies, including the United States, to work…to de-escalate” the situation. U.S. officials quickly clarified that Washington was “not involved in strikes against Iran” and that America’s priority is protecting U.S. forces in the region.

Notably, U.S. President Donald Trump – under whose administration secret talks with Tehran had been faltering – praised Israel’s operation as “excellent” and warned Iran that “there’s more to come” if it does not reconsider its nuclear stance.

In Europe, leaders echoed calls for calm: Germany’s chancellor appealed to “both sides to refrain from steps that could lead to further escalation and destabilise the entire region”, while France’s foreign minister urged all parties to “exercise restraint and avoid any escalation that could compromise regional stability,” even as he reaffirmed “Israel’s right to defend itself against any attack”[9].

Traditional adversaries of Israel unsurprisingly issued sharp rebukes – Russia condemned the “unprovoked strikes” on a sovereign UN member state as “categorically unacceptable”, and China likewise denounced violations of Iran’s sovereignty and called for dialogue[10].

Regional reactions have shown rare consensus: even traditional rivals of Iran, such as Saudi Arabia, issued formal condemnations of Israel’s actions. Riyadh referred to the strikes as “blatant aggressions” and framed them as violations of international law that risk destabilising the region[11].

In summary, Israel’s bombardment and Iran’s counter-strikes have triggered a global diplomatic scramble to prevent a broader war, with allies pressuring Israel and Iran alike to step back from the brink. But for now, both protagonists appear defiant – Israel insists its campaign will continue until Iran’s nuclear threat is neutralized, and Iran insists it will retaliate decisively once it chooses the time and place.

Written by Aries Russell

Managing Director, Aries Intelligence

[1] Just Security, “Strategic Stakes in Israel’s Opening Strikes on Iran,” May 7, 2024, https://www.justsecurity.org/114547/strategic-stakes-israels-opening-strikes-iran/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Israel%20Defense,nuclear%20sites%20were%20not%20impacted.

[2] Reuters, “World reacts to Israeli strike on Iran over nuclear programme,” June 13, 2025, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/world-reacts-israeli-strike-iran-over-nuclear-programme-2025-06-13/#:~:text=,moment%20in%20Israel%27s%20history.

[3] Al Jazeera, “Israel kills nuclear scientists, strikes sites in Iran: Who did it target?” June 13, 2025, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/13/israel-kills-nuclear-scientists-strikes-sites-in-iran-who-did-it-target;

[4] NPR, “Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear and missile sites, prompting retaliation from Tehran,” June 13, 2025, https://www.npr.org/2025/06/13/nx-s1-5432437/israel-attacks-iran-retaliation-nuclear#:~:text=Iran%20launched%20retaliatory%20strikes%20into,attack%20on%20Iranian%20nuclear%20sites.

[5] Reuters, “Israel threatens to make Tehran ‘burn’ after Iranian retaliatory strikes,” June 14, 2025, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-iran-launch-more-barrages-israel-aims-wipe-out-tehrans-nuclear-program-2025-06-13/;

[6] Reuters, “Israel says it strikes Iran amid nuclear tensions,” June 13, 2025, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-says-it-strikes-iran-amid-nuclear-tensions-2025-06-13/#:~:text=been%20sharply%20degraded%20over%20the,Lebanon%20and%20Hamas%20in%20Gaza.

[7] Al Jazeera, “Israel attacks Iran: What we know so far,” June 13, 2025, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/13/israel-attacksiran-what-we-know-so-far;

[8] Al Jazeera, “UN officials urge Israel, Iran to show ‘restraint’ at emergency meeting,” June 13, 2025, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/13/un-officials-urge-israel-iran-to-show-restraint-at-emergency-meeting;

[9] Al Jazeera, “How the world is reacting to Israel attacks on Iran nuclear, military sites,” June 13, 2025, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/13/how-the-world-is-reacting-to-israel-attacks-on-iran-nuclear-military-sites;

[10] Ibid

[11] Arab News, “Saudi Arabia leads Arab condemnation of Israel attacks on Iran,” June 13, 2025, https://www.arabnews.com/node/2604354/saudi-arabia.