Tehran: On June 13, 2025, Israel carried out a large-scale military strike targeting key Iranian nuclear and military facilities across several cities including Tehran, Natanz, Tabriz, Isfahan, Arak, and Kermanshah. The operation involved airstrikes and targeted assassinations aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missile production.
According to Iranian media and official sources, the attack resulted in the deaths of several top Iranian military leaders including Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Bagheri, the Iranian military’s chief of staff, and Major-General Gholamali Rashid.
In addition, six prominent nuclear scientists were killed in the Israeli strikes: Abdul Hamid Manouchehr, Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari, Syed Amir Hossein Faghihi, Motabali Zadeh, Mohammad Mahdi Tehranchi, and Fereydoon Abbasi. Abbasi was a former chief of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, while Tehranchi served as the head of the Islamic Azad University. The strikes caused significant damage to nuclear research centers and military bases, with social media images showing residential areas of Tehran heavily impacted and civilian properties destroyed.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the attack as a “bloody crime” and warned Israel to expect “severe punishment,” while Iranian officials vowed a harsh response. More than 100 drones were reportedly launched by Iran towards Israel in retaliation but were intercepted by Israeli and Jordanian forces. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the strikes in a prerecorded statement, emphasizing the goal of damaging Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir described the attack as a fight for Israel’s survival and said the country had reached a “point of no return.” The United States denied any direct involvement but reaffirmed support for Israel if Iran retaliated. The incident has raised global concerns about escalating tensions and potential wider conflict in the Middle East. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that the Natanz nuclear site was among the targets but has not detected radiation leaks.
The attacks come amid ongoing diplomatic talks between Iran and the US over Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief. The strike is seen as a major escalation in the longstanding hostility between Israel and Iran and could significantly destabilize the region.
