Explosive Escalation & Precision Strikes: “Operation Rising Lion”
On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a major military operation dubbed Operation Rising Lion, unleashing over 200 warplanes on more than 100 Iranian targets nuclear plants, missile facilities and military command posts including prominent sites at Natanz, Isfahan, Arak, and Tehran suburbs.According to Israel, this offensive eliminated senior IRGC commanders and nuclear scientists, crippling critical components of Iran’s nuclear
and missile infrastructure.Satellite imagery shows severe above‑ground damage at Natanz and uranium conversion plants at Isfahan.Impact analysis: Israeli Defense Minister Katz and PM Netanyahu framed the attacks as urgent to halt what they saw as Iran’s existential threat.Netanyahu reportedly authorized the strikes even without prior U.S. approval .
Casualty Surge & Civilian Toll
Iran’s Health Ministry reported 400–657 deaths, including hundreds of civilians, and over 3,000 wounded
A surge of Iranian missiles breached the Iron Dome, striking hospitals (e.g. Soroka in Beersheba) and residential areas.Human cost: UN and human rights groups have expressed alarm at civilian injuries, displacement, and damage to essential infrastructure, calling
for swift de-escalation.
Nuclear Site Damage: Isfahan & Natanz
Isfahan: The uranium conversion and centrifuge-production facilities suffered “critical” damage, setting back Iran’s fuel-cycle process by months.The IAEA confirmed hits on “critical buildings” and centrifuge workshops in multiple strikes.Natanz: Surface-level structures were destroyed, though the subterranean halls with vital enrichment centrifuges remain intact.Arak & Fordow: Israel also struck heavy water reactor at Arak (no radiation leak reported) and targeted Fordow, one of Iran’s hardest-to-reach sites Strategic implication: The assault aims to delay or dismantle Iran’s ability to refine uranium and develop nuclear weapons capabilities.
Iranian Response: Missiles, Drones, & DefenseIn retaliation, Iran fired 450+ ballistic missiles and 1,000+ drones into Israeli airspace; Israel’s Iron Dome countered most attacks, but some breached defenses.Hospitals and homes were hit, escalating cross-border humanitarian fallout.Iran also reportedly engaged military bases in Khuzestan, Shiraz and Qom
Humanitarian & Refugee Crisis Looms
The UN’s refugee agency warned of a potential mass displacement, labeling it “another refugee crisis in the making”. Over 100,000 residents fled Tehran toward northern regions (Mazandaran, Gilan, Alborz), fueled by declared alerts near weapons facilities.Internet blackouts worsened panic and complicated humanitarian coordination .
Global Politics & Diplomacy
Diplomatic efforts via EU-led talks in Geneva and the OIC summit in Istanbul are ongoing, yet Iran through FM Abbas Araghchi refused negotiations amid active Israeli strikes.Turkish President Erdogan urged renewed Iran–US nuclear dialogue, accusing Israel of sabotaging diplomacy.Western power including the UK, Germany and France called for restraint and positioned for possible involvement . The US is weighing military options
like deploying bunker-buster bombs to eliminate remaining nuclear sites like Fordow
Legal Warnings & Nuclear Safety
The IAEA and UN cautioned against nuclear site attacks, citing risks to both regional and global safety.
The WHO also voiced concerns over nuclear fallout.Legal scholars and global South nations flagged potential violations of international law, accusing Israel of war crimes and aggression under the Geneva Conventions
Summary & Outlook
The Israel–Iran war, now entering a second week, is marked by one of the most significant direct military confrontations in recent Middle East history.With both sides trading devastating blows Israel targeting nuclear and military infrastructure, Iran retaliating with missiles and drones the risk of escalation into a full-scale regional war is acute.Civilian harm, displacement, and infrastructural ruin create ticking humanitarian crises. Diplomatic channels are stressed: European intermediaries urge calm, while Iran refuses dialogue until Israel ends attacks. The US floats deeper involvement, even military action raising global alarm.As the UN, IAEA, human rights bodies, and countries worldwide call for de-escalation, the coming days will determine whether diplomacy can interrupt the cycle of violence or whether this will spiral into a larger, more destructive conflict.