Israel-Iran Reciprocal Strikes Following Nuclear Facility Attacks, June 13-15, 2025
Iran reported the arrest of two alleged Israeli Mossad operatives in Alborz Province, where it said they were producing bombs.
MIDDLE EAST — On June 13, 2025, Israel launched airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, initiating a series of reciprocal military engagements that escalated through June 15, 2025. Iran responded with missile strikes targeting Israeli territory, while Israel countered with defensive interceptions and a significant strike on an Iranian refueling aircraft at Mashhad Airport, approximately 2,300 miles (3,701 kilometers) from Israel.
Amid these operations, Iran reported the arrest of two alleged Israeli Mossad operatives in Alborz Province, where it said they were producing bombs. This escalation, involving regional actors like Yemen, reflects decades of strategic rivalry and carries profound implications for regional stability.
Recent Israeli Air Siren Maps
Netanyahu: Israel Had To Act, Iran Was Only Months Away From Obtaining A Nuclear Device
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking to Fox News on Sunday, said that he launched airstrikes against Iran to prevent “a nuclear holocaust,” and said Israel had intel indicating that Iran was mere months away from manufacturing its first nuclear device.
“We had to act,” Netanyahu stated adding, “It was the 12th hour, and we did act. To save ourselves but also … to protect the world from this incendiary regime.”
“The intel we got and we shared with the United States was absolutely clear: That they were working in a secret plan to weaponize the uranium, they were marching very quickly, they would achieve a test device and possibly an initial device within months, and certainly less than a year."
He then said, “That is something that we couldn’t possibly accept. We will not have a second holocaust, a nuclear holocaust. We already had one, in the previous century – the Jewish state is not going to have the holocaust committed on the Jewish people. It’s not going to happen.”
Historical Context
The Iran-Israel conflict traces its roots to the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which shifted Iran’s stance to staunch opposition against Israel, notably through its support for Hezbollah during the 1982 Lebanon War. Iran’s military presence grew in Syria throughout the 2010s, heightening tensions.
On June 13, 2025, Israel struck Iran’s nuclear facilities and residential areas in Tehran, assassinating several high-ranking military officials, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). This action marks a pivotal escalation, building on decades of enmity and Israel’s efforts to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Timeline of Key Events, Full Statements, Analysis:
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