Israel has launched a new wave of airstrikes across western Iran as part of its ongoing military campaign, “Operation Rising Lion,” targeting dozens of strategic sites, including uranium enrichment facilities in Natanz and Fordo, missile production plants, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) infrastructure. According to Israeli defense officials, the early morning strikes on June 13 involved hundreds of aircraft executing coordinated precision attacks. Among the most significant developments was the elimination of key IRGC leadership figures in an underground command center strike.
According to Israeli military intelligence, the IRGC Air Force command had convened overnight in a fortified underground headquarters to plan a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel. Acting on this intelligence, Israeli Air Force jets struck the location, killing IRGC Air Force Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Alongside him were two other senior officers: Taher Foor, commander of IRGC Air Force drone operations, and Davoud Sheikhi, head of IRGC air defense operations. The Israeli military confirmed the air force command was effectively destroyed in the strike.
The IRGC Air Force has been responsible for directing repeated missile and drone attacks against Israeli territory, including the coordinated strikes launched directly from Iran in October 2024 and in April 2025. Israeli officials also linked the now-deceased commanders to the 2019 attack on oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, highlighting their longstanding operational involvement in regional escalation.
Iran responded swiftly to the latest Israeli campaign by launching more than 100 Shahed drones toward Israeli territory. Air defense systems intercepted the majority of the drones, but the escalation prompted immediate airspace closures in Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and parts of Iran. Civil aviation hubs, including Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, temporarily suspended operations due to security concerns.
Despite the scale of the strikes, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that there were no abnormal radiation levels recorded at Iranian nuclear facilities. Director-General Rafael Grossi stated that the Natanz and Fordo enrichment sites, as well as the Bushehr nuclear power plant, appeared undamaged following site inspections and monitoring.
Amid the growing crisis, President Donald Trump convened a meeting of the National Security Council in Washington. Addressing the public shortly thereafter, Trump reiterated that the United States had not participated in the Israeli operation but had been informed in advance. He urged Iran to return to negotiations and warned that failure to do so could trigger “even more brutal” military action. “There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to stop the slaughter,” Trump posted via Truth Social.
Diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran have been suspended indefinitely. The sixth round of U.S.–Iran nuclear talks, previously scheduled to continue in Oman, was officially canceled following Iran’s decision to withdraw in response to the Israeli strikes.
Financial markets reflected mounting concerns. Brent crude prices spiked over 7% amid fears of instability in the Strait of Hormuz and broader disruptions to oil supply. Equities declined globally as investors braced for extended geopolitical uncertainty.
The international community, including governments in the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand, issued calls for restraint and urged a return to diplomacy. The United Nations Secretary-General echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of avoiding further escalation in an already volatile region.
